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OP   THE 

Theological   Seminary, 

PRINCETON,    N.  J. 


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Book, 


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Digitized  by  tine  Internet  Arciiive 

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littp://www.arcliive.org/details/cliildreninheavenOOsclie' 


CHILDREN  IN  HEAVEN 


£j)e  Infant  gmir  f\cbctniA  h\\  tljc  ^looi  of  |esus. 


WORDS  OF  CONSOLATION  TO  BEREAVED  PARENTS 


WILLIAM  E, 


J^CHENCK,  D.D. 


"Suffer  little  cUildren,  and  forbid  them  not,  to  come  unto  me;  for  of  such  is  the  kingdom 
of  heaven." — Matt.  xix.  14. 

"  It  is  not  the  will  of  j'our  Father  which  is  in  heaven,  that  one  of  these  little  ones  sliould 
perish." — Matt,  xviii.  14. 


PHILADELPHIA: 

PRESBYTERIAN  BOARD  OF  PUBLICATION, 

No.  1334  Chestnut  Street. 


Entered  according  to  the  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1865,  by 

THE    TRUSTEES    OF    THE 

PRESBYTERIAN  BOARD  OF  PUBLICATION, 
In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  for  the  Eastern  District  of  Pennsylvania. 


CONTENTS. 


PAOB 

VREFACE 9 

EPITAPH  ON  AN  INFANT 13 

AN  INFANT'S  SPIRIT U 

A  SUNBEAM  AND  A   SHADOW A.  D.  F.  Ra>T)OLPH.  15 

OPINIONS  ON  INFANT  SALVATION Thomas  Smtth,  D.D.  16 

SHADE  AND  SUNSHINE Margaret  Junkin'.  ^ 

THE  GOOD  SHEPHERD Bickersteth.  46 

"OF  SUCH  IS  THE  KINGDOM." Mrs.  Mart  S.  B.  D-^i^ja.  46 

THE  ANGELS  OP  GRIEF ^ J.  G.  Whittier.  47 

ON   A  FAIR  INFANT John  Muton.  48 

EARLY  LOST,  EARLY  SAVED Geo.  TV.  Bethune,  D.D.  50 

LITTLE  ONES  GOING  HOME 02 

ARE  INFANTS  S.WED? David  M'Conought,  D.D.  64 

THE  REAPER  AND  THE  FLOWERS Longfellow.  79 

OUR  LITTLE  SISTER Ada.  81 

PASSING  UNDER  THE  ROD Mrs.  Mart  S.  B.  D.4Na.  82 

OVER  THE  RIVER Miss  N.  A.  W.  Priest.  83 

3 


4  CONTENTS. 

PAQB 

TUB  CHEERFUL  GIVER Mrs.  L.  IT.  Sigourney.    85 

THE  MEETING  PLACE Horatius  Bonar,  D.D.    87 

THE  SINGING  OF  CHILDREN 90 

THE  LITTLE  SLEEPER Richard  C.  Trench.    92 

THE  DEATH  OF  A  SON Paul  Gerhardt.    94 

MY  CHILD John  Pierpon't.    98 

ARE  INFANTS  ELECTED? Ashbel  6.  Faikchild,  D.D.  101 

THE  ELECTION  OF  INFANTS Cuthbert.  107 

GLORIFIED  CHILDREN 109 

WEEP  NOT  FOR  THE  DEAD Mary  E.  Brooks.  112 

HAPPY  ARE  THEY James  Momgomery.  113 

THE  DEATH  OF   AN  INFANT 116 

ON  THE  DEATH  OF  MY  SON Richard  Huie,  M.D.  119 

THE  INFANT'S  MINIATURE 121 

A  CHILD'S  DEATH R.  B.  Sheridan.  12.3 

DEATH  OF  AN  INFANT 124 

BABY'S  SHOES .- WniiAM  C.  Bennett.  125 

LOW  SUE  LIES Mrs.  Noeion.  127 

THE  FAVOUR  OF  GOD  IN  CHRIST  TO  LITTLE  CHILDREN Geo.  W.  Bethune,  D.D.  129 

THE  HINDOO  MOTHER Mrs.  M.  St.Leon  Loud.  148 

THE  IDLE  LYRE Margaret  Junkin.  150 

EPITAPH  ON  AN  INFANT Ch.uiles  Wesley.  153 

CHILDREN  IN   HEAVEN 154 

THE  MOTHER  AND  HER  DYING  BOY. 166 

THE    DE.\TH   OF   A  CHILD Cunningham.  159 


CONTENTS.  5 

PAQB 
THE  CHILD'S  FIRST  GRIEF Mrs.  HEM.OfS.  160 

INFANTS  IN  HEAVEN James  M.  MACDoNiXD.  D.D.  162 

DEATH  OF  THE  FIRST  BORN .Willis  Gatlord  Clark.  180 

THE  MORNING-GLORY Marl*.  W.  Lottell.  182 

LITTLE  BESSIE A.  D.  F.  Randolph.  186 

RESIGNATION Longfellow.  18S 

"'TWAS   BUT  A  BABE." 191 

MAKING  A  CHILD'S  GRAVE N.  P.  Willis.  193 

CONSOLATION  ON  THE  DEATH  OF  INFANT  CHILDREN.  Cojipiled  bt  a  bereaved  parent.  198       • 

THE  DEATH  OF  AN   INFANT Cunningham.  206 

LOOK   ABOVE 208 

THE  SYJIPATHY  OF  JESUS M.urg.uiet  Junkin.  209 

THE  GOOD  SHEPHERD Maria  W.  Lowell.  211 

THE  DYING  INFANT Lerot  J.  Halset,  D.D.  214 

TO  AN  INFANT  IN  HEAVEN Thomas  Wakd.  221 

A  WALK  IN   A  CHURCHYARD Richard  C.  TRE^•CH.  223 

THE  LITTLE  PILGRIM William  C.  Richards.  220 

THE  GOSPEL  THE  ONLY  SCHEME  OF  PITY  FOR  CHILDREN....Geo.  W.  Bethune,  D.D.  228 

TO  AN  INFANT  IN   ITS  GRAVE-CLOTHES Mrs.  L.  H.  Sigourn-ey.  234 

THE  DEATH-ANGEL'S  MISSION 236 

LUCY Horatius  Bonar,  D.D.  239 

THE  CHILD  OF  JAMES  MELVILLE Mrs.  A.  Stuart  Monteath.  241 

THE  BERE.WED   MOTHER Mrs.  H.  M.  Dodge.  244 

THE  CHILD  IS   H.\PPIER   NOW Samuex  L  PRniE,  D.D.  247 

A   BUTTERFLY  AT   A    CHILD'S  GRAVE Mrs.  L.  H.  Sigournet.  250 


6  CONTENTS. 

PAQB 

WEEP  NOT  FOR   HER! 261 

HYMN  TO  NIGHT CrEO.  W.  Bethune,  D.D.  254 

WHAT  WAS  THY  LIFE? Kichard  C.  Trench.  257 

THE  INFANT  IN  HEAVEN Thomas  Chalmers,  D.D.  258 

Little  annie J-  h.  p.  260 

MY  DARLING'S  SHOES 263 

THE  DEATH  OF  A  YOUNG  GIRL Willi.u«  H.  Burleigh.  265 

WORDS  OF  CONSOLATION Cotton  Mather.  268 

IS  IT  WELL  WITH  THE  CHILD? MRS.  L.  H.  SioonRNET.  274 

MY  ANGEL  BROTHER WiLLLiM  E.  Schenck,  D.D.  276 

ONLY  A  YEAR Mrs.  H.  B.  Stowe  280 

CAN  I  WISH  IT  BACK? Pnmp  Doddridge,  D.D.  282 

A  MOTHER'S   HE.\^RT Richard  C.  Trench.  284 

DEATH  OF  A  CHILD Charles  Wesley.  286 

REALMS  OF  THE  BLEST 287 

SAY  NOT  'TWERE  A  KEENER  BLOW T.  H.  Batlt.  288 

EXTRACT  FROM  A  LETTER Robert  H.all.  290 

DIRGE  FOR  A  CHILD Mrs.  Hemans.  291 

GONE,  BUT  NOT  LOST Mrs.  Ellen  Stone.  293 

EPITAPH  ON   A  CHILD Richard  Huie,  M.D.  295 

THE  LOSS  OF  CHTLDREN Flavel.  296 

THE  DEATH  OF  A  CHILD Conder.  298 

A  STORY 300 

THE  VOICE  OF  SPRING W.  J.  Pabodie.  302 

NOT  LOST,  BUT  GONE  BEFORE James  Montgomebt.  304 


CONTENTS.  7 

VMK 

THREE  LITTLE  GRAVES Mrs.  L.  lU.  Sigoijexey.  306 

TO  BEREAVED  PARENTS Rev.  Dr.  Sciiauffleb.  G03 

THE  LOST  ONE Mart  Howitt  310 

A  FATHER'S  LAMENT William  Howitt.  313 

MY  CHILD Mrs.  S.  H.  0.  317 

GOD  IS  NOT  DEAD 320 

LITTLE  VFILLIE'S  LAST  WORDS C.  W.  B.  322 

THE  LITTLE  BOY  THAT  DIED 324 

INFANT  BAPTISM 326 

PRAYER  AT  A  CHILD'S  BAPTISM 327 

THE  GRAVE 328 

THE  STAR  IN  THE  EAST Fenelon.  329 

A  MOTHER'S  LAMENT James  Montgomery.  333 

DEATH  OF  AN  INFANT 336 

WEEP  ON Cowper.  3-07 

UTTLB  MARY 337 

APPEAL  TO  IRRELIGIOUS  PARENTS 340 

GRIEF  FOR  THE  DEAD 341 

LITTLE  LUCY  AND   HER  SONG A.  D.  F.  Randolph.  344 

THE  CHILD'S  WISH 341 

THE  BOY  AND  HIS  ANGEL Caroline  M.  Sawyer.  34N 

IT  IS  WELL  WITH  THE  CHILD 351 

THE  STING  OF  DEATH.... 352 

WEEP  NOT 353 


PREFACE. 


This  volume  has  been  compiled  to  meet  what  was  plainly  a  want  in  our 
religious  literature.  Many  inquiries  after  such  a  work  have,  from  time 
to  time,  been  addressed  to  the  writer,  and  no  book  could  be  found  which 
precisely  answered  the  description  of  the  one  desired. 

In  this  compilation  two  principal  objects  have  been  aimed  at.  The 
first  was,  to  exhibit  fully  and  fairly  the  views  of  the  great  body  of 
evangelical  Christians,  more  especially  of  those  embracing  the  system  of 
doctrines  commonly  called  Calvinistic,  upon  the  interesting  subject  of 
Infant  Salvation.  Great  numbers  of  professing  Christians  who  believed 
that  children  dying  in  infancy  were  saved,  have  not  distinctly  understood 
the  grounds  on  which  that  belief  was  entertained,  or  how  naturally  and 
logically  it  might  be  deduced  from  the  precious  doctrines  of  divine 
sovereignty  and  abounding  grace  through  our  Redeemer,  Christ.  It  is 
important  that  the  foundations  and  relations  of  this  belief  should  be 
inteUigently  examined  and  comprehended.  Moreover,  there  have  been 
unceasing  attacks  made  upon  the  doctrines  of  predestination,  elec- 
tion, regeneration,  and  faith  in  Christ,  by  those  who  looked  with 
an  unfriendly  eye  upon  those  doctrines  as  set  forth  in  the  standards 
of  the  Calvinistic  churches,  on  the  ground  that  they  unavoidably 
consigned  dying  infants  for  ever  to  the  pit  of  woe.      Few  Calvinistic 

ministers  have  escaped  these  assaults,  often  made  with  much  ingenuity 
2  9 


10  P  Tv  E  F  A  C  E  , 

%nd  pertinacit}'.  The  following  pages  will  show  erery  candid  reader  that 
all  such  assaults  arc  not  only  utterl.7  groundless,  but  that  the  very  doc- 
trines assailed,  afford  the  only  firm  foundation  on  which  we  can  place  tlie 
eternal  safety  of  the  early  dead. 

The  second  object  was,  to  furnish  consolation  to  those  sorrowing 
parents  who  had  been  bereaved  by  the  removal  of  their  little  ones.  How 
numerous  a  class  these  form  among  God's  dear  children,  will  scarcely  be 
suspected  by  the  unthinking  and  uninquiring. 

"  There  is  no  flock,  however  watched  and  tended, 
But  one  dead  lamb  is  there ; 
There  is  no  fireside,  howsoe'er  defended, 
But  has  one  vacant  chair." 

Millions  of  such  mourners  live,  carrying  about  in  their  bosoms  sor- 
rows, the  existence  of  which  the  world  knows  nothing  of.  The 
world  is  full  of  Rachels  weeping  for  their  children.  We  were  once 
listening  to  a  discourse  of  the  venerable  Dr.  Archibald  Alexander,  upon 
the  text,  "In  my  Father's  house  are  many  mansions."  The  audience 
was  carried  along  with  the  preacher  as  he  glowinglj'  described  the 
heavenly  home  of  the  believer.  At  a  certain  point  in  his  sermon  he 
unexpectedly  remarked,  "Those  mansions  contain  numerous  apartments, 
suited  to  their  various  occupants — there  are  among  others,  ample 
and  delightful  accommodations  provided  for  the  countless  hosts  of  little 
children  who  will  be  gathered  there."  The  effect  was  electric.  As  he 
went  on  to  describe  the  bliss  of  these  hosts  of  little  ones  in  heaven,  we 
could  not  help  noticing  how  many  a  parent's  head  was  drooped,  and  how 
many  an  eye  was  moistened  with  tears.  My  own  thoughts  turned  to  a 
row  of  little  graves  where  five  infant  brothers  and  a  sister  lay,  and  I  re- 


PREFACE.  11 

joiced  to  feel  that  they  were  sharing  the  happiness  of  the  "Father's 
house."  We  earnestly  hope  that  God  may  bless  this  book,  in  some 
humble  measure,  to  the  comforting  of  his  bereaved  children. 

It  will  be  seen  that  the  sources  whence  the  materials  for  this  volume 
have  been  drawn,  are  numerous  and  widely  diversified.  These  materials 
were  ample  enough  to  have  made  many  such  volumes.  Indeed  a  strong 
testimony  to  the  great  importance  and  unspeakable  interest  of  the  sub- 
ject may  be  found  in  the  fact,  that  nearly  every  divine  or  poet  of  note 
has  written  something  upon  this  theme.  Does  not  this  show  how 
general  is  the  yearning  of  the  human  heart  for  light  and  consolation  in 
reference  to  those  blossoms  of  humanity  which  have  fided  at  the  chill 
touch  of  death? 

W.  E.  S. 

PhiladelpMa,  1865. 


EPITAPH  ON  AN  INFANT. 


Bold  Infidelity,  turn  pale  and  die  I 
Under  this  stone  an  Infant's  ashes  lie; 

Sat,  Is  it  lost,  oe  sated? 
If  death's  by  sin,  it  sinned,  for  it  lies  here; 
XF  heaven's  by  works,  in  heaven  it  can't  appeab. 

Ah,  reason!  how  depraved! 
Revere  the  bible's  sacred  page — the  knot's  untied, 
It  died  through  Adam's  sin  : — it  lives,  for  Jesus  dkd. 
13 


AN  INFANT'S  SPIRIT. 


An  infant's  soul — the  sweetest  thing  on  earth, 
To  which  endowments  beautiful  are  given. 
As  might  befit  a  more  than  mortal  birth — 
AVhat  shall  it  be,  when,  'midst  its  winning  mirth, 
And  love,  and   trustfulness,  'tis  borne  to  heaven? 
AVill  it  grow  into  might  above  the  skies  ? 
A  spirit  of  high  wisdom,  glory,  power — 
A  cherub  guard  of  the  Eternal  Tower, 
With  knowledge  filled  of  its  vast  mysteries? 
Or  will  perpetual  childhood  be  its  dower  j 
To  sport   for  ever,  a  bright,  joyous  thing, 
Amid  the  wonders  of  the  shining  thrones. 
Yielding  its  praise  in  glad,  but  feeble  tones, 
A  tender  d3ve  beneath  the  Almighty's  wing? 
U 


Children  in  Heaven. 


5>«<o 


A.  D.  F.  RANDOLPH. 
I. 

I  HEAR  a  shout  of  merriment, 

A  laughing  boy  I  see ; 
Two  little  feet  the  carpet  press, 

And  bring  the  child  to  me. 

Two  little  arms  are  round  my  neck. 

Two  feet  upon  my  knee : 
How  fall  the  kisses  on  my  cheek; 

How  sweet  they  are  to  me ! 

II. 

That  merry  shout  no  more  I  hear, 

No  laughing  child  I  see ; 
No  little  arms  are  round  my  neck, 

Nor  feet  upon  my  knee! 

No  kisses  drop  upon  my  cheek; 

Those  lips  are  sealed  to  me. 
Dear  Lord,  how  could  I  give  him  up 

To  any  but  to  Thee! 

15 


Q 


©pinions   on  Jnfitnt  Salbaliom 

THOMAS  SMYTH,  D.D.* 

Among  the  Jews,  the  hope  of  salvation  seems  to  have  been 
confined  to  themselves,  and  to  their  children  who  had  received 
circumcision.  -"They  imagined  that  the  law  of  Moses  made 
the  very  infants  of  the  Gentiles  be  treated  as  sinners  and  hate- 
ful to  God,  because  they  were  uncircumcised,  and  descended 
from  uncircumcised  parents.  They  of  course  imagined  that  all 
their  own  children  were  saved,  and  that  all  those  of  the  Gentiles 
perished.  It  is  partly  on  this  account  that  the  apostle,  after  men- 
tioning the  universal  reign  of  death  from  Adam  to  Moses,  dis- 
tinctly adds,  that  it  came  upon  infants,  as  well  as  upon  adults, 
without  distinction  of  Jew  and  Gentile ;  and  then  shows  that 
infants,  whether  they  descend  from  Gentiles  or  Jews,  are  treated 
as  sinners,  not  by  virtue  of  the  law  of  Moses,  but  in  conse- 
quence of  the  sin  of  Adam,  the  common  father  of  the  human 
race." 

A  corresponding  faith  was  early  developed  in  the  Christian 
church.  Erroneous  views  of  baptism,  as  in  itself  communica- 
tive of  regeneration,  led  to  the  belief  of  its  absolute  necessity  in 
order  to  salvation.  Of  course,  those  who  failed  to  enjoy  the 
benefits  of  this  ordinance  were  believed  to  be  excluded  from 

*  Extracted  from  "Solace  for  Bereaved  Parents,  or  Infants  Dio  to  live." 

IG 


OPINIONS    ON    INi'ANT    SALVATION".  17 

all  participation  in  the  benefits  of  that  gospel,  with  which  it  was 
so  essentially  connected.  And  hence  it  was  supposed  that  the 
children  even  of  Christian  parents  who  were  not  baptized,  as 
w^ell  as  all  other'*  in  the  same  unfortunate  condition,  were  cast, 
Avith  unbelievers,  into  hell  for  ever ;  or,  at  least  excluded  from 
the  divine  presence,  and  the  blessedness  of  heaven. 

This  opinion  prevailed  generally  in  the  church  until  after  the 
Reformation.  It  Avas  the  opinion  of  Augustine,  of  Gregory, 
Ariminiensis,  Driedd,  Luther,  Melanchthon,  Tilmanus,  Heshu- 
sius,  "  who  have  all  fallen  into  the  worst  of  St.  Austin's  opinion, 
and  sentence  poor  infants  to  the  flames  of  hell  for  original  sin, 
if  they  die  before  baptism."*  "The  Catholic  faith,"  says 
Augustine,  "  resting  on  divine  authority,  believes  the  first  place 
to  be  the  kingdom  of  heaven,  whence  the  unbaptized  are 
EXCLUDED ;  and  the  second  hell,  where  every  apostate  and  alien 
from  the  faith  of  Christ  will  experience  eternal  punishments.  A 
third  place  we  are  wholly  ignorant  of,  nor  shall  we  find  it  in  the 
Scriptures."t  The  decree  of  the  council  of  Trent,  by  which  it 
is  determined  that  "  whosoever  shall  affirm  that  baptism  is  in- 
different, that  is,  not  necessary  to  salvation,  let  him  be  ac- 
cursed," is  still  binding  on  the  Roman  Catholic  Church :  for 
their  catechism  also  teaches  that  children,  "be  their  parents 
Christians  or  infidels,  unless  regenerated  by  the  grace 
OF  baptism,  are  born  to  eternal  misery  and  everlasting 
destruction."!     "  Nothing,"  says  the  Council  of  Trent,  "  can 

«  See  Jer.  Taylor's  Works,  vol.  9,  p.  129. 

t  August.    Hypostgnost.    Contra.  Pelag.  lib.  v.  torn.  iii.  Col.  1405.  C.  Basil,  1569. 
X  See  Cramp's  Hist,  of  Council  of  Trent,  p.  129,  and  the  works  quoted. 
3 


18  CHILDREN    IN    HEAVEN. 

be  apparently  more  necessaiy,  than  that  the  faithful  should  be 
taught,  that  the  law  of  baptism  was  ordained  by  the  Lord  for  all 
men  ;  so  that  unless  they  be  regenerated  hy  God,  through  thegiricc 
of  baptism,  they  are  begotten  by  their  parents,  be  they  believers, 
or  unbelievers,  to  everlasting  misery  and  jxrdition."*  "JVb  other 
means  of  salvation,^^  adds  the  Catechism,  "  is  supplied  to  infants, 
except  baptism  be  administered  to  themJ^-f  "There  is  a  third 
place  for  infants,"  says  Bellarmine,  "  who  die  without  baptism. 
This  limbus  Puerorum  is  for  the  eternal  punishment  of  loss 
only :"  that  is,  "  the  loss  of  the  presence  of  God."J  "  Since, 
then,"  adds  this  defender  of  the  Papacy,  "  infants  are  without 
reason,  so  that  they  cannot  imitate  the  sins  of  their  fathers,  and  are 
nevertheless  punished  with  the  most  severe  of  all  punishments, 
that  is  to  say,  death  temporal  and  eternal ;  it  necessarily  follows 
that  they  have  some  other  sin,  for  which  they  are  justly  punished ; 
and  this  is  what  we  call  original  sin.  It  cannot,  therefore,  be 
doubted  that  infants  (for  whom  it  is  shown  from  the  word  of 
Christ  and  apostolical  tradition  that  Baptism  is  necessary,)  ha\'e 
sin,  which  they  bring  with  them  from  their  mother's  womb."§ 
This  belief  passed  down  to  the  Reformed  Churches,  and  was  at 
first  very  generally  held.  The  Church  of  England  placed  the 
unbaptized  on  the  same  footing  with  the  suicide  and  the  excom- 
municated, and  denied  to  them  the  office  of  burial.  ||     And  this 

*  Concil.  Trid.  Sess.  vii.  can.  v.  p.  51.     Romsp,  1564. 
f  Catechismus  ad  Parochos,  pp.  189,  191.     Lugduni,  1579. 
J  Bellarm.  de  Purgat  lib.  ii.  chap.  vi.  torn.  ii.  p.  410.     A.  Colonife,  1628. 
g  Bellarm.  de  Amiss.  Gratiae  et  Statu  Peccati.  lib.  iv.  c.  7.  tom.  iv.  p.  61.  G.  62.B. 
I]  See  Burns'  Eccles.  Law,  vol.  i.  p.  266,  and  Wheatley  on  the  Book  of  Praj'er,  p, 
477. 


OPINIONS    ON    INFANT    SALVATION.  19 

still  continues  to  be  the  doctrine  of  the  church,  and  of  all  hio;h- 
church  prelatists  who  agree  on  this  subject  with  the  Romanists. 
"  Without  baptism,"  say  the  Oxford  Tracts,  "  none  can  enter  tlie 
kingdom  of  heaven."*  "And  so  momentous  is  this  dogma  in 
their  judgment,  that  one  leading  object,"  says  Mr.  Bridges,  him- 
self an  Episcopalian,  "  of  their  great  movement  confessedly  was 
to  bring  it  more  fully  before  the  cliurch.""|"  The  question  of  the 
future  condition  of  infants  became  thus  mvolved  with  that  of 
baptism,  and  was  not  considered  upon  its  o^vn  merits.  Eccle- 
siastics, who  were  secluded  from  all  personal  interest  in  domestic 
life,  were  of  course  insensible  to  the  happiness  connected  with 
the  enjoyment  of  children,  or  to  the  distress  consequent  upon 
their  loss.  The  fate  of  children  awakened,  therefore,  but  a 
relative  interest,  as  it  affected  other  truths  considered  of  more 
importance. 

The  horror  naturally  associated  with  this  fearful  doctrine  was 
neverth(;less  very  early  felt,  and  at  different  times  manifested. 
Various  theories  were  adopted  to  throw  over  it  a  veil  of  charity, 
and  to  render  it  more  tolerable  to  the  wounded  spirit  of  mourn- 

-■■  Vol.  i.  p.  260.  See  also  Dr.  Pusey's  work  on  Baptit^m,  j5n««!'m,  Bethel  on  Bap- 
tismal Regeneration,  pp.  7,  8,  9,  &c. 

f  See  his  Sacramental  Instruction,  p.  46,  47,  where  he  quotes  a  host  of  authorities, 
including  Perceval,  Keble,  Dr.  Pusey,  Sewell,  Bishop  Mant,  &c.  It  would  even  ap- 
pear that  some  evangelical  Episcopalians  of  our  present  day  are  unwilling  to  say 
anything  about  the  future  condition  of  imhapthed  children  who  die  in  infancy.  See 
the  Churchman's  Monthly  Rev.  May  184.3,  p.  372.  This  doctrine  of  the  aluolute 
necessity  of  baptism  to  salvation  was  established  in  the  Western  church  by  papal 
authority,  and  was  retained  in  the  English  church  after  the  Reformation,  until  the 
year  1604,  when  it  was  declared  to  be  necessary  "where  it  may  be  had."  See  Hal- 
low on  the  Order  of  Baptism,  Ac,  and  Ogelby  on  Lay  Baptism,  p.  159,  160,  &c. 


20  CHILDREN    IN    HEAVEN. 

ing  parents.  In  the  time  of  Augustine,  Vincentius,  Victor,  and 
some  others,  believed  that  infants  dying  without  baptism  might, 
notwithstanding,  be  saved.*  This  opinion  was  favoured  by 
some  of  the  School  Divines,  in  reference  to  cases  where  baptism 
could  not  be  had,  inasmuch  as  it  was  the  will  of  the  parents 
that  it  should  be  enjoyed.f  Bernard,  Biel,  Cajetan,  and  some 
others,  adopted  this  charitable  supposition.^  And  so  also  did 
Peter  Martyr,  Wickliffe,  the  Hussites,  and  the  Lollards,  whc 
adopted,  preached,  and  suffered  for,  all  those  doctrines  which  are 
now  denominated  Calvinistic.  But  this  opinion  has  been  con- 
sidered as  involving  unconquerable  difficulties.  Jeremy  Taylor 
says,  "What  will  be  the  condition  of  unbaptized  infants,  so 
dying,  I  do  not  profess  to  know  or  teach,  because  God  hath  kept 
it  as  a  secret."  §  Baxter,  with  all  his  charity,  and  perhaps  too 
liberal  views  of  Christian  doctrine,  could  only  go  so  far  on  this 
subject  as  to  say,  "  I  think  that  no  man  can  jprove  that  all  un- 
baptized infants  are  damned  or  denied  heaven.  Nay,  I  think  I 
can  prove  a  promise  to  the  contrary."  Beyond  "  penitent  be- 
lievers and  their  seed,"  he  says,  "  what  God  may  do  for  others 
unkno^vn  to  us,  we  have  nothing  to  do  with,  but  his  covenant  hath 
made  no  other  promise  that  I  can  find."||  Similar  were  the 
sentiments  of  Bishop  Hopkins :  "  Not  only  infants  baptized," 
says  he,  "  but  all  infants  of  believing  parents,  though  they  should 
unavoidably  die  before  baptism,  are  in  the  same  safe  and  blessed 

*  See  Jer.  Taylor's  Works,  vol.  ix.  p.  90. 
f  See  list  of,  in  Hooker's  Works,  vol.  ii.  p.  219. 
X  Jer.  Taylor's  Works,  vol.  ix.  p.  91  and  93. 
§  Jeremy  Taylor's  Works,  p.  92. 
11  See  Works,  vol.  v.  p.  326  and  323. 


OPINIO XS     ON     INFANT     SALVATION.  21 

condition."  This,  however,  is  the  extent  to  which  he  could 
apply  his  hopes.* 

To  this  charitable  view  of  the  matter,  which  Calvinists,  and 
Calvinistic  churches  generally  adopted,  the  Pelagians  could  not 
fully  assent,  f  They  excluded  infants  w^hen  unbaptized  from  the 
kingdom  of  heaven,  but  promised  to  them  an  eternal  and  a  natural 
beatitude.  This  ojjinion  was  embraced  by  Ambrosius  Catharinus, 
Albertus  Pighius,  and  Hieronymus  Savanarola,  Gregory  !N^az- 
ianzen,  Athanasius,  Ambrose,  Pope  Innocent  III.,  and  others.^ 
Hence  arose  the  present  doctrine  of  the  Eomish  Church,  which 
teaches  that  there  is  a  limbiis  patrum,  or  place  on  the  borders  of 
hell,  for  those  who  had  believed  in  Christ  before  his  advent; 
and  a  Ihnhus  infantum,  for  children  who  die  unbaptized. 

When  the  mists,  however,  w^iich  had  gathered  round  the  or- 
dinance of  baptism  were  gradually  dispersed,  this  subject  was 
examined  on  more  impartial  grounds.  The  natural  feelings  of 
the  heart  were  permitted  to  declare  their  interest  in  the  decision 
of  the  question.  The  hope  expressed  by  Wickliffe  in  reference 
to  unbaptized  children  was  eagerly  embraced  by  his  followers, 
who  were  all  Calvinists,  and  who  all  regarded  baptism  in  its  truly 
simple  and  scriptural  character.  Zuinglius  was  perhaps  the  first 
who  proclaimed  hope  for  the  salvation  of  axl  estfants,  whether 
CHRISTIAN"  OR  HEATHEN,  who  died  in  their  infancy,  and 
before  they  became  chargeable  with  the  guilt  of  actual  transgres- 

•  See  Works,  vol.  ii.  p.  429. 

f  See  the  Articles  of  the  Synod  of  Dort,  with  Scott's  Notes.  Works  of  Scott, 
vol.  viii.  p.  576. 

X  See  Jcr.  Taylor,  vol.  ix.  p.  90. 


22  CHILDREN    IN    HEAVEN. 

sion.  He  maintained,  that  in  consequence  of  the  atonement  of 
Christ  offered  for  all,  "  original  sin  does  not  even  damn  th»: 
children  of  the  heathen."  For  this  conclusion  concerning  chil- 
dren generally,  Zuinglius  quotes  Romans  v. ;  though  he  admits 
that  we  have  but  little  light  upon  the  subject.  He  rejects  the 
idea  that  baptism  washes  away  original  sin  and  condemnation. 
The  blessing,  he  says,  is  not  tied  to  signs  and  symbols ;  baptism 
recognizes  and  attests  the  privilege  rather  than  confers  it. 
"  What  scriptural  authority,"  he  asks,  "  is  there  for  ascribing 
such  an  effect  to  baptism?"  "The  words  of  Mark  xvi.  16," 
says  he,  "  relate  to  those  only  to  whom  the  gospel  was  sent. 
They  that  hear  the  gospel  and  believe  it  were  blessed;  they 
who  hear  it,  and  believe  it  not,  are  accursed.  But  this  is  no 
prejudice  to  election,  for  both  they  who  come  to  Christ  are 
drawn  to  him  by  the  Father,  which  is  election:  and  they 
who  come  to  the  Father  are  chosen  by  him ;  but  so  that  they 
may  at  length  come  to  him  by  Christ.  The  (infimt)  children 
of  Christians  are  the  children  of  God  by  virtue  of  the  covenant. 
Concerning  the  children  of  heathens,  we  decide  nothing:  though 
I  confess  that  I  incline  to  the  sentiment  which  considers  the 
death  of  Christ  as  available  to  the  salvation  of  all  who  are  free 
from  actual  sin."*  For  this  doctrine  Bossuet  charges  Zuino;lius 
with  being  a  Pelagian,  and  pronounces  this  a  "strange  decision."f 
This  opinion  of  Zuinglius  excited  considerable  controversy.^ 

»  See  Epist.  fo.  17,  18.  Zuingl.  Op.  1.  382.  and  Scott's  Contin.  of  Milner,  vol.  iii. 
p.  143,  144,  146. 

t  See  Hist.  Var.,  toI.  i.  p.  66. 

X  Sec  an  account  of,  in  De  Moor's  Comment.,  vol.  ii.  p.  104,  &c. 


OPINIONS    ON    INFANT    SALVATION.  23 

Eckard  says,  ^^ perhaps  Zuingllus  pronounced  too  liberally  when 
he  included  the  children  of  the  heathen."  The  same  doctrine 
was,  however,  maintained  by  Cornelius  Wigger,  and  by  John 
lac-Schultens,  who  embraced  in  the  decree  of  predestination  to 
eternal  life  those  who  die  in  infancy,  whether  born  of  Gentile  oi* 
infidel  parents.  This  was  the  declared  sentiment  of  Arminius,* 
Triglandius,  Walders,  Heidanus,  Curcelleus,  Maresius.f  Mare- 
sius  says,  "  The  question  is,  whether  the  decree  of  election  and 
reprobation  affects  infants.  There  is  not  the  smallest  ground 
from  Scripture  to  think  it  does.  Let  parents  then  be  comforted 
for  departed  children.  These  words  of  Christ,  ('  of  such  is  the 
kingdom  of  heaven,')  why  are  they  so  general,  but  that  they 
seem  to  include  the  children  not  only  of  believers  but  of  unbe- 
lievers also."  I 

The  Remonstrants  believed  that  such  infants  as  were  not  en- 
titled to  heaven  by  their  relation  to  the  covenanted  mercies  of 
God,  would  be  consigned  only  to  the  punishment  of  loss,  their 
bodies  not  being  raised,  and  their  souls  not  being  annihilated, 
yet  being  eternally  separated  from  the  beatific  vision  of  God.§ 

Many,  however,  regarded  the  decision  of  this  question  as  pre- 
sumptuous. Thty  left  the  whole  .matter  in  the  hands  of  God, 
determining  nothing  one  way  or  another,  but  quieting  themselves 
with  the  assurance,  that  as  far  as  God's  purpose  of  salvation  ex- 
tended it  would  be  secured ;  and  that  infants,  as  far  as  included 
in  it,  would  be  assuredly  ransomed.  Infants  were,  however, 
universally  regarded  as  involved  in  all  the  guilt  of  original  sin, 

*  See  an  account  of,  In  De  Moor's  Comment.,  vol.  ii.  p.  104,  <fec. 
t  See  ditto.  J  See  ditto,  p.  105.  §  See  ditto,  p.  104. 


24  CIIILDREX    IN     HEAVEN. 

and  as  requiring  for  their  salvation  the  exercise  of  the  same 
mercy,  and  the  bestowment  of  the  same  grace,  as  adults.  They 
M'ere  described  by  some  as,  "  damnabilibus  et  forte  quibus  dum 
dlam  damnandis."  But  even  when  infants  were  included  by  any 
in  the  decree  of  reprobation,  their  punishment  was  believed  to 
consist,  not  in  the  positive  infliction  of  misery,  but  only  in  the 
deprivation  of  heavenly  rewards.* 

Calvin  clearly  recognized  the  fact  that  all  infants  are  involved 
in  the  guilt  of  ^Adam's  sin,  and  therefore  liable  to  the  misery  in 
which  it  has  involved  our  race.  But  at  the  same  time  he  en- 
courages the  belief  that  they  are  redeemed  from  these  evils  by 
Christ,  are  capable  of  regeneration,  and  are,  when  taken  away 
in  infancy,  "  redeemed  by  the  blood  of  the  Lamb."  He  argues 
against  those  who,  like  the  Anabaptists,  asserted  that  regenera- 
tion cannot  take  place  in  early  infancy.  For  says  he,  "  if  they 
must  be  left  among  the  children  of  Adam,  they  are  left  in  death, 
for  in  Adam  we  can  only  die.  On  the  contrary,  Christ  com- 
mands them  to  be  brought  to  him.  Why  ?  because  he  is  life. 
To  give  them  life  therefore  he  makes  them  partakers  of  himself, 
while  these  men,  by  driving  them  away  from  him,  adjudged 
them  to  death. "t  He  then  goes  on  to  prove,  by  incontestable 
arguments,  that  infants  both  have  been,  and  can  be,  regenerated 
by  God.  And  in  his  Commentary  on  the  words  of  our  Saviour, 
"  Of  such,  &c.,"  without  any  limitation  of  his  meaning,  he  un- 
equivocally declares,  that  "  God  adopts  infants  and  washes  them 

*  See  Stapfer,  vol.  iv.  p.  518.     On  the  ground  of  their  condemnation,  seeBuddeus 
Theol.  Dogm.  p.  591. 
■(■  See  Institutes,  13.  iv.  ch.  xvi. 


OPINIONS     ON    INF^^NT     SALVATION.  25 

in  the  blood  of  his  Sou,"  and  that  "  they  are  regarded  by  Christ 
as  among  his  flock."  "  In  tliis  passage,"  he  adds,  "  Christ  is  not 
speaking  of  the  general  guilt  in  which  all  the  descendants  of 
Adam  are  involved,  but  only  threatening  the  despisers  of  the 
gospel  who  proudly  and  obstinately  reject  the  grace  that  is  offered 
them ;  and  this  has  nothing  to  do  with  infants.  I  likewise  op- 
pose a  contrary  argument :  all  those  whom  Christ  blesses  are 
exempted  from  the  curse  of  Adam  and  the  wrath  of  God ;  and 
as  it  is  known  that  infants  were  blessed  by  him,  it  follows  that 
they  are  exempted  from  death."* 

Certain  it  is,  that  Calvinists  were  foremost  in  overthro^ving 
the  dogma  that  baptism  was  essentially  connected  with  salvation, 
and  in  establishing  the  truth,  that  want  of  it  does  not  militate 
against  their  future  safety.f  It  is  well  known  that  the  former 
opinion  is  still  extensively  held  by  those  who  are  opposed  to  Cal- 
vinistic  sentiments.  On  this  subject  Scott,  in  answer  to  Bp. 
Tomline,  remarks,  "a/eiy  j)resumptuous,  extravagant  Calvinists 
have  spoken  shocking  things  of  the  damnation  of  infants :  but 
to  consign  the  innumerable  multitudes  of  those  all  over  the 
world,  and  in  every  age,  who  die  before  they  commit  actual 
sin,  and  die  unbaptized,  to  eternal  damnation,  is  far  more  shock- 
ing. Even  such  Calvinists  may  suppose  some  of  these  children 
to  be  elected  and  saved :  but  the  sentiment   that  none  dying 

*"  Institutes,  book  iv.  chap.  16,  sec.  31,  vol.  ii.  p.  460.     See  also  pp.  461,  456,  436, 
435. 

f  See  Cartwright's  reply  to  Hooker  on  this  subject,  in  Ilanbury's  Hooker,  toI.  ii. 
p.  221.     See  also,  Bp.  Hopkins'  Works,  vol.  ii.  p.  429;  Davenant  on  Ool.,  vol.  ii.  p. 
448  ;  Heywood's  Works,  vol.  iv.  p.  447 ;  Pictet's  Theology,  p.  399. 
4 


26  CHILDREN    IN     HEAVEN. 

when  infants,  except  such  as  have  been  baptized,  are  saved,  ex- 
chidcs  them  alL"*  "  The  most  unfeeling  supra-lapsarian  never 
ventured  on  so  dire  an  opinion  as  to  consign  all  the  unbaptized 
infants,  in  every  age  and  nation,  to  eternal  misery."t  This  is 
the  language  of  a  Calvinist  addressed  to  that  large  body  of  his 
own  church  -who  oppose  Calvinism,  and  take  occasion  to  impeach 
its  charity.  Some  Calvinists,  it  is  true,  have  in  former  times 
avoided  the  decision  of  this  question,  leaving  dying  infants  in 
the  hands  of  a  merciful  God.  But,  "why,"  asks  the  same 
■writer,  "  might  not  these  Calvinists  have  as  favourable  a  hope 
of  all  infants  dying  before  actual  sin  as  Anti-Calvinists  can 
have?"|  What  doctrine  of  the  most  rigid  Calvinism  is  there, 
with  which  such  a  hope  can  possibly  militate?  Is  it  the  doctrine 
of  God's  sovereignty,  whereby  is  attributed  to  him  all  power  and 
right  of  dominion  over  his  creatures,  to  dispose  of  them,  and  to 
extend  or  Avithhold  favour,  as  seemeth  to  him  good — but  why 
may  it  not  please  God,  in  the  exercise  of  this  sovereignty,  to  ex- 
tend his  favour  to  all  dying  infants  ?  Is  it  the  doctrine  of  elec- 
tion, whereby  God,  out  of  his  mere  love,  for  the  praise  of  his 
glorious  grace,  to  be  manifested  in  due  time,  hath,  in  Christ, 
chosen  some  men  to  eternal  life  and  the  means  thereof— but  why 
may  not  dying  infants  be  among  these  chosen  ones?  Is  it  the 
doctrine  of  the  divine  decrees,  whereby,  for  his  OAvn  glory, 
God  hath  fore-ordained  whatsoever  comes  to  pass,  especially  con- 
cerning angels  and  men— but  why  may  not  the  salvation  of  all 
dying  infants  have  been  thus  decreed?     Is  it  the  doctrine  of 

*  See  Work?,  vol.  vii.  p.  502. 

t  See  Works,  vol.  x.  p.  407.  J  Do.  vol.  viii.  p.  573. 


OPINIONS    ON    INFANT    SALVATION.  27 

God's  free  and  rich  grace,  whereby  the  holiness,  obedience,  and 
righteousness  of  Christ  are  imputed  to  us  for  justification ;  and 
inherent  grace  is  -wrought  in  the  heart  by  the  Spirit  of  God,  in 
regeneration ; — but  why  may  not  this  grace  be  imparted  to  all 
dying  infants?  If  God  gives  us  hope  for  such  in  his  blessed 
word,  then  is  it  not  manifest  that  their  salvation,  instead  of  be- 
ing thrown  upon  the  contingency  of  human  will ;  or  being  made 
dependent  upon  human  effort;  or  connected  with  the  moral 
character  or  personal  agency  of  infants  themselves ;  or  left  at 
hazard,  through  the  indiiFerence  or  neglect  of  men ; — is  based 
by  these  doctrines  upon  the  unchangeable  purpose,  and  the  all- 
sufficient  grace  of  God ;  and  is  therefore  rendered  gloriously 
CEKTAIN  to  the  bereaved  and  mourning  spirit  of  the  disconsolate 
parent  ?  If  however,  rejecting  these  doctrines  (which  Calvinists 
love  because  doctrines  of  the  Bible)  we  make  election  to  rest  on 
the  foreknowledge  of  good  works ; — or  moral  character  to  depend 
on  moral  conduct ; — and  salvation  to  be  limited,  in  its  flow,  to  the 
channel  of  Christian  ordinances; — then  what  hope  can  be  enter- 
tained for  those  who  have  been  taken  away  while  as  yet  they 
could  not  discern  good  fi'om  evil ; — while  without  any  moral 
character,  and  thus  wholly  unfit  for  enjoyment  or  reward ; — and 
while,  as  "  nameless  things,"  they  have  never  passed  through  the 
"  purifying  entrance"  to  the  kingdom  of  heaven  ?  We  answer — 
none  that  is  reasonable  or  satisfactory. 

But  on  the  ground  of  Calvinism  this  hope  is  all  that  can  be 
desired,  and  arises  most  naturally  from  its  principles.  "  In  per- 
fect consistency,"  sayb  Dr.  Harris,  in  his  Essay  on  this  subject, 
"  with  their  theological  creed,  have  some  Calvinists  entertained 


28  CHILDREN    IN    HEAVEN. 

the  opinion  advocated  in  the  preceding  pages ;  while  others,  ex- 
pressing a  hope  of  its  truth  to  the  full  extent,  have  discovered  the 
wished-for  evidence,  in  favour  of  the  children  of  pious  persons 
only ;  but  none  of  any  consideration  are  known  to  have  mairi- 
tiiined,  or  even  allowed,  that  the  inference  in  question  {i.  e.  the 
damnation  of  any  infants)  is  an  evident  and  necessary  deduction 
from  Calvinistic  doctrines.  In  direct  opposition  to  what  must, 
tlicrefbre,  be  considered  an  unfounded  aspersion,  it  would  require 
but  little  labour  to  prove,  that  the  great  peculiarities  of  this 
system  supply  the  most  tenable  and  satisfactory  grounds 
OF  hope  for  the  salvation  of  all  who  depart  this  life 

ANTECEDENT  TO  PERSONAL  TRANSGRESSION." 

I  would  here  quote  the  language  of  one  of  our  oldest  and 
most  thoroughly  Calvinistic  divines,  the  celebrated  William 
Perkins,  a  Puritan :  "  Infants  have  no  works  whereby  they  may 
be  judged,  seeing  they  do  neither  good  nor  evil,  as  the  Scripture 
spcaketh  of  Jacob  and  Esau,  Rom.  ix.  11.  Therefore  all  shall 
not  be  judged  according  to  works.  Ans.  These  phrases  of 
Scripture,  as  a  man  sows,  so  shall  he  reap :  every  one  shall  receive 
according  to  his  works,  &c.,  are  not  to  be  extended  to  all,  but 
must  be  restrained  to  such  as  have  works,  and  knowledge  to 
discern  betwixt  good  and  evil,  which  infants  have  not.  For 
besides  that  they  are  destitute  of  works,  they  also  want  the  use 
of  reason ;  and  therefore  they  shall  not  be  judged  by  the  book  of 
conscience,  but  by  the  book  of  life.  For  to  say  as  Hugo  de  8. 
Vict,  doth  upon  the  Romanes,  qimst.  59,  that  they  shall  be  con- 
demned for  the  sins  which  their  parents  committed  in  their  con- 
ception and  uitivity,  as  though  they  themselves  had  actually 


OPINIONS    ON    INFANT    SALVATION.  29 

committed  them,  is  contrary  to  tliat,  Ezel.  xviii.  20,  The  son 
shall  not  bear  the  iniquity  of  the  Father. 

''  Again,  some  may  say,  if  children  do  not  apprehend  Christ's 
b«iefits  by  their  parent's  faith;  how  then  is  Christ's  righteous- 
ness made  theirs  and  they  saved  ?  Ans.  By  the  inward  working 
of  the  Holy  Ghost,  who  is  the  principal  applier  of  all  graces, 
whereas  faith  is  but  the  instrument.  As  for  the  places  of  Scrip- 
ture that  mention  justification  and  salvation  by  faith,  they  are 
to  be  restrained  to  men  of  years :  whereas  infants  dying  in  their 
infancy,  and  therefore  wanting  actual  faith,  which  none  can  have 
without  actual  knowledge  of  God's  will  and  word,  are  no  doul^ 
saved  by  some  other  special  working  of  God's  Holy  Spirit,  not 
known  to  us."  "  Infants,"  he  adds,  "  already  elected,  albeit 
they,  in  the  womb  of  their  mother  before  they  were  born,  or 
presently  after,  depart  this  life,  they,  I  say,  being  after  a  secret 
and  unspeakable  manner,  by  God's  Spirit  engrafted  into  Christ, 
obtain  eternal  life."  1  Cor.  xii.  13:  Luke  i.  35,  41,  44:  and 
Jer.  i.  5.* 

And  equally  strong  speaks  the  great  Coryphseus  of  Calvinism, 
who  carried  out  its  principles  to  their  extremest  limits,  I  mean 
the  celebrated  Toplady.  In  his  vindication  of  the  Church  of 
England  from  Arminianism,  he  had  asserted  his  belief  in  the 
salvation  of  all  infants  dying  in  infancy.  This  opinion  his 
opponents  interpreted  as  involving  the  doctrine  of  general  re- 
demption. "  As  if,"  says  Toplady,  "  all  died  in  infancy."  "  I 
testify  my  firm  belief,  that  the  souls  of  all  departed  infants  are 
with  God  in  glory :  that,  in  the  decree  of  predestination  to  life, 

*  Works,  fol.  vol.  iii.  p.  386.     Vol.  ii.  p.  127,  and  vol.  i.  p.  77. 


80  CHILDREN    IN    HEAVEN. 

God  hath  inchuled  all  whom  he  intended  to  take  away  in  in- 
lancy  ;  and  that  the  decree  of  reprobation  hath  nothing  to  do 
with  them."* 

"  In  the  mean  while  (says  he)  I  should  be  obliged  if  he  Mwild, 
with  the  help  of  IMr.  Wesley's  irradiation,  show  me  what  be- 
comes of  departed  infants,  upon  the  Arminian  plan  of  condi- 
tional salvation,  and  election  of  good  worlds  foreseen." 

Dr.  Gill,  who  resembled  Toplady  in  carrying  out  the  princi- 
ples of  Cah'inism  to  their  extremest  limit,  also  resembled  him 
in  holding  this  comfortable  view  of  the  doctrine  of  election.  In 
iiis  Complete  Body  of  Practical  and  Doctrinal  Divinity,  he 
makes  the  following  remark  on  the  case  of  infants  dying  in 
infancy  :  "  Now  such  a  number  as  they  are,  can  never  be  thought 
to  be  brought  into  being  in  vain,  God  is  and  will  be  glorified  in 
them  ;  now  though  their  election  is  a  secret  to  us,  and  unrevealed, 
it  may  be  reasonably  supposed,  yea  in  a  judgment  of  charity  it 
may  rather  be  concluded,  that  they  are  all  chosen,  than  that  none 
are.  But  the  election  of  them  cannot  be  owing  to  their  faith, 
holiness,  obedience,  good  works,  and  perseverance,  or  to  the 
foresight  of  these  things,  which  do  not  appear  in  them." 

I  may  refer  also  to  the  sentiments  of  Tyndale,  the  translator 
of  the  New  Testament  into  English;!  of  Pictet,  the  learned 
Professor  of  Geneva  ;t  to  the  touching  letter  of  Whitefield  on 
the  death  of  his  infant  sou  ;§  of  Watts  to  a  lady  bereaved  of 

«  Works,  fol.  vol.  i.  p.  207. 

t  See  Works,  vol.  ii.  p.  516. 

X  See  his  Theoi.  b.  xi.  chap  iv.  pp.  194,  495,  and  p.  444,  446. 

§  See  Life  .-f.  by  Philip. 


OPINIONS    ON    INFANT    SALVATION.  81 

several  infant  children ;  and  of  the  pious  Rutherford  to  a  lady  on 
the  loss  of  a  daughter  j*  of  Addington,f  and  of  Robert  Hall;4: 
of  Howe,§  and  of  Cotton  Mather,  ||  Buchanan,^  and  these  are 
all  Calvinists. 

It  may  ])e  well,  however,  to  add  a  few  more  quotations  from 
Calvinistic  writers.  Dr.  Williams,  in  his  "  Defence  of  Modern 
Calvinism"  against  the  attacks  and  misrepresentations  of  Bishop 
Tomline,  at  p.  75,  says  :  "  That  they  [infants]  are  capable  of 
regeneration  indeed.  Is  admitted,  as  well  as  of  remission,  justifi- 
cation, holiness  of  nature,  and  heavenly  blessedness ;  and  we  re- 
flect with  pleasure,  that  the  Holy  Scriptures  afford  many  en- 
couraging intimations  relative  to  the  salvation  of  dying  infants — 
whether  baptized  or  not.  Though  ihcy  have  no  hope,  we  have 
hope  concerning  them."  The  same  view  is  also  presented  in 
that  noble  defence  of  Calvinistic  doctrine,  the  Lime  Street  Lec- 
tures, where  it  is  said,  "  an  elect  infant  is  as  capable  of  being 
effectually  called,  or  renewed  by  grace,  of  being  freely  justified, 
and  for  ever  glorified,  as  a  grown  person."**  Again  at  another 
place,  the  subject  is  more  fully  discussed — "  As  for  infants,  we 
take  it  for  granted,  in  the  present  argument,  that  they  are  con- 
ceived in  sin,  and  shapen  in  iniquity ;  that  that  which  is  born  of 

*  See  Letters,  part  2,  letter  iii. 
t  Work  on  Baptism,  p.  62-64,  67,  76. 
X  Works,  vol.  i.  p.  88,  89. 

^  Works  of  John  Howe,  vol.  iv.  p.  4,  5,  and  vol.  vii.  p.  544-5. 
II  See  quoted  afterwards. 

f  Rev.  James   Buchanan  of  Edinburgh,  in  his  Office  and  Work  of  the  Holy  Spirit, 
Part  1,  eh.  viii.  on  the  Regeneration  of  Infants. 
«■*  P.  279,  280,  Eng.  ed. 


32  CIIILDREX     IX     IIEAVEX. 

the  flesh,  is  flesh;  that  they  arc,  by  reason  of  the  disobedience  of 
the  first  man,  sinners,  and  so  unworthy  of,  and  unmeet  for,  the 
lieavenlv  fflorv,  and  must  be  exchided  from  it,  unless  washed  in 
tlie  blood  of  Jesus  and  sanctified  by  the  Holy  Spirit.  To  sup- 
pose them  all,  or  indeed  any  of  them,  to  perish  is  to  be  cruelly 
WISE  ABOVE  WHAT  IS  WRITTEX:  and  to  imagine  they  are  so 
holy,  as  to  need  no  cleansing,  or  that  any  thing  defiled  can  enter 
into  heaven,  is  directly  flying  in  the  face  of  Scripture :  so  that, 
though  we  are  not  told  positively  what  is  their  portion;  yet  WE 

MAY  SAFELY  DETERMINE  THAT  THEY  ARE  MADE  MEET,  IF  IX 
HEAVEX,  FOR  THAT  LXHERITAXCE  WHICH  IS  IXCORRUPTIBLE 
AND  UXDEFILED." 

I  M'ill  only  add  to  these  authorities  the  following  remarkable 
quotation  from  the  National  Covenant  adopted  in  Scotland  in  the 
year  1581,  again  in  1590,  1638,  1639,  1640,  1650  and  1651. 
"  But,"  says  this  venerable  document,  in  detailing  the  enormous 
errors  of  the  Iloman  Antichrist,  "  in  special  we  detest  and  refuse 
his  cruel  judgment  against  infants  departing  without  the  Sacra- 
ment, and  his  absolute  necessity  of  baptism,"  &c.* 

Dr.  George  Jimkin,  also,  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  this 
country,  and  one  of  the  strongest  defenders  of  strict  old-fashioned 
Calvinism,  in  his  late  work  on  the  doctrine  of  Justification, 
heads  his  10th  chapter  thus:  "Original  Sin — proved  from  the 
salvation  of  those  that  die  in  infancy."  "  It  is  not  inconsistent," 
says  he,  "  with  any  doctrine  of  the  Bible,  that  the  souls  of  de- 
ceased infants  go  to  heaven."  "  As  to  the  opinion  that  all  who 
die  in  infancy,  both  children  of  believers  axd  uxbeliev- 

*  See  Irving's  Confessions,  p.  135. 


OPINIONS    ON    INFANT    SALVATION.  33 

.EES,  CheIstians  and  PAGANS,  go  to  happiness  and  heaven,  it 
may  be  harmlessly  entertained  ;  it  may  however  operate  an  evil 
influence  upon  the  minds  of  wicked  and  unbelieving  parents." 
"  While  therefore  I  have  no  objetftion  to  the  opinion  that  all 
who  die  in  infancy  go  to  happiness,  yet  I  must  think  that  in  ref- 
erence to  the  infants  of  unbelievers,  it  is  mere  opinion,  although 
it  is  in  all  probability  an  opinion  according  to  truth."* 

The  Rev.  Thomas  Scott,  the  author  of  the  Commentary,  and 
another  of  the  boldest  defenders  of  the  Calvinistic  doctrines,  says, 
*'  I  do  not  propose  it  as  an  article  of  faith ;  for  it  is  not  expressly 
revealed  (though  it  appears  to  be  favoured  in  scripture)  that  as 
infants,  without  actual  transgression,  are  involved  in  the  ruin  of 
our  race  by  the  first  Adam,  so  infants,  as  such,  dying  before 
actual  transgression,  before  they  are  capable  of  knowing  right 
from  wrong,  are,  without  personal  repentance  and  faith,  but  not 
without  regeneration,  made  partakers  of  the  salvation  of  the 
second  Adam.  I  do  not  say,  '  It  is  so ;'  but,  'probably  it  may 
be  so.'  And,  when  we  consider  what  a  large  proportion  of  the 
human  race,  in  every  age  and  nation,  die  in  infancy,  it  appears  to 
me  a  cheering  thought." 

Thus,  also,  speaks  Newton  :  "  I  hope  you  are  both  well  recon- 
ciled to  the  death  of  your  child.  Indeed,  I  cannot  be  sorry  for 
the  death  of  infants.  How  many  storms  do  they  escape !  Nor 
can  I  doubt,  in  my  private  judgment,  that  they  are  included  in 
the  election  of  grace.  Perhaps  those  who  die  in  infancy  are  the 
exceeding  great  multitudes  of  all  people,  nations,  and  languages 
mentioned  (Rev.  vii.  9,)  in  distinction  from  the  visible  body  of 

»  p.  141,  143.  ..i,.'.. 

6 


34  CHILDREN    IN    HEAVEN. 

professing  bclievei-s,  who  were  marked  in  their  foreheads,  and 
openly  known  to  be  the  Lord's." 

But  these  quotations  it  is  unnecessary  to  multiply.  In  the 
Presbyterian  and  other  Calvinistic  churches,  including  the  Con- 
gregational, Avhich  embrace  the  doctrinal  portions  of  the  West- 
minster Confession  of  Faith,  there  is,  it  is  true,  no  canonical  de- 
termination on  this  subject.  This  Confession  says:  "Elect 
infants,  dying  in  infancy,  are  regenerated  and  saved  by  Christ 
through  the  Spirit."*     It  teaches,  therefore,  the  certaustty  of 

THE  SALVATION    OF  ALL    INF^XJNTTS,  WHO    ARE    ELECT.      It   also 

teaches  tliat  baptism  is  not  necessarily  connected  with  grace  and 
salvation,  and  that  exclusion  from  it  does  not  exclude  from  re- 
generation.f  It  teaches  further  that  infants,  though  incapable 
of  exhibiting  their  faith,  may  be  regenerated.!  It  leaves  every 
one  therefore  from  an  examination  of  the  Scriptures  to  decide 
how  far  the  electing  love  of  God  extends.  At  this  time  it  is,  I 
suppose,  universally  believed  by  Presbyterians,  and  those  M^ho 
hold  to  the  doctrine  of  election,  that  all  dying  infants  are  in- 
cluded among  the  elect,  are  made  heirs  of  grace,  and  become 
members  of  the  kingdom  of  heaven.  I,  at  least,  am  not  ac- 
quainted with  any  who  hold  an  opposite  sentiment.  Possibly, 
when  the  doctrine  is  extended  to  the  infants  of  heathen  parents, 
some  might  not  be  prepared /m%  to  concur  in  it;  but  that  there 
is  ground  from  Scripture  to  believe  that  even  they  are  included 
in  the  promises  of  Divine  mercy,  and  are,  as  Mr.  Toplady  confi- 

*  Ch.  10,  sec.  3.  -j-  ch.  28,  sec.  5. 

X  See  note  3,  and  see  LaracTii  Op.  torn.  ii.  p.  47.     Dick's  Theol.  vol.  iv.  p.  75,  and 
Calvin's  Instit.  1-3,  4. 


OPINIONS    ON    INFANT    SALVATION.  35 

dently  says,  "  all  undoubtedly  saved,"  is,  I  have  no  doubt,  aii 
opinion  to  which  Presbyterians  will,  generally,  subscribe.  The 
opposite  opinion,  which  has  been  maintained  by  some  Calvinists, 
in  common  with  many  Arminians  of  former  dnys,  and  M^hich  is 
held  by  the  Roman  Catholic  Church  at  the  present  time,  may  be 
most  certainly  regarded,  as  a  recent  writer  has  said,  as  "  an  ex- 
crescence, and  not  an  essential  feature,  of  the  system  of  Calvin- 
ism." 

The  assertion,  however,  is  still  frequently  and  most  slander- 
ously published,  that  Calvinists  believe  that  children,  dying  in 
infancy,  are  danmed  ;  that  this  is  the  doctrine  of  our  Confession 
of  Faith ;  and  that  Calvin  expressly  taught  that  there  are  infants 
in  hell  only  a  span  long.  Nothing,  however,  can  be  more  un- 
true. As  to  the  opinion  of  Calvinists,  we  have  shown  that  it  is 
now  universally  in  favour  of  the  hope  that  all  children  dying  in 
infancy  are  saved  through  the  merits  of  Christ's  death,  applied 
by  the  Holy  Ghost.  Calvin,  also,  as  has  been  shown,  was  among 
the  very  first  of  the  reformers  to  overthrow  the  unchristian  and 
most  horrible  doctrine  of  the  Romish  and  High  church  divines, 
that  no  unbaptized  infant  can  be  saved  ;  to  maintain  the  possi- 
bility of  their  regeneration  by  the  Spirit  without  baptism  ;  and 
to'  encourage  the  hope  of  their  general  salvation.  And  as  to  the 
passage  in  the  Westminster  Confession  of  Faith,  which  is  sup- 
])0sed  to  teach  the  damnation  of  infants,  it  is  contained  in  ch.  x. 
sec.  3,  and  is  as  follows: 

"  Elect  infants,  dying  in  infancy,  are  regenerated  and  saved  by 
Christ  through  the  Spirit,  who  worketh  when,  and  where,  and 
how  he  pleaseth.     So  also  are  all  other  elect  persons,  who  are  in- 


36  CHILDREN    IN    HEAVEN. 

capable  of  being  outwardly  called  by  the  ministiy  of  the 
word." 

The  subject  of  this  chapter  is  "effectual  calling,"  by  which,  it 
is  believed,  that  "  all  those  whom  God  hath  predestinated  unto 
life  he  is  pleased,  in  his  appointed  time,  effectually  to  call  out  of 
that  state  of  sin  and  death  in  which  they  are,  by  nature,  to  grace 
and  salvation  by  Jesus  Christ,"  &c.  (See  sect.  1.) — The  Con- 
fession proceeds  in  sect.  2d,  to  say :  "  This  effectual  call  is  of 
God's  free  and  special  grace  alone,  not  from  anything  at  all  fore- 
seen in  man,  who  is  altogether  passive  therein,  until,  being  quick- 
ened and  renewed  by  the  Holy  Spirit,  he  is  thereby  enabled  to 
answer  this  call,  and  to  embrace  the  grace  offered  and  conveyed 
in  it." 

Now  the  objection  which  would  naturally  arise  in  the  mind 
against  this  doctrine,  would  be  this — If  this  is  so,  then  does  not 
this  doctrine  apparently  exclude  infants  from  any  participation 
in  tliis  salvation,  since  they  clearly  are  not  capable  of  obeying 
this  call,  and  of  embracing  this  offered  grace.  The  Confession, 
therefore,  proceeds  to  obviate  this  objection,  by  showing  that,  as 
this  calling  in  itself  considered,  and  the  power  and  the  disposi- 
tion to  answer  this  call,  and  embrace  the  grace  conveyed  in  it,  is 
a  different  thing  from  that  answer  and  embrace — there  is  no  more 
difficulty  in  bestowing  this  quickening  and  renewing  influence 
of  the  Holy  Spirit  upon  infants  than  upon  adults.  Infants  as 
well  as  adults  may  be  thus  effectually  called  and  regenerated, 
tJiough  adults  only  are  in  a  state  fitting  them  to  act  upon  this 
call  by  the  exercise  of  their  renewed  powers  and  sanctified  will. 
Regenerated  infants  are  equally,  with  adults,  endued  with  a  re- 


OPINIONS    ON    INFANT    SALVATION.  37 

newed  and  holy  disposition,  which  will  develope  itself,  when  tlie 
subject  is  capable,  in  holy  acts.  Our  Confession,  therefore, 
wisely,  charitably,  and  scripturally  concludes,  that  this  grace  is 
co-extensive  with  God's  electing  love  and  mercy,  and  is  bestowed 
upon  the  objects  of  thao  love,  \\  hether  they  are  removed  from 
this  world  in  a  state  of  infancy,  or  of  maturity.  It  overthrows 
the  doctrine  of  Romanists,  High  Church  Episcopalians,  and 
others,  who  teach  that  this  grace  of  salvation,  by  the  renewing 
of  the  Holy  Ghost,  is  tied  down  and  limited — -first,  by  what  they 
most  vainly  and  arrogantly  call  the  only  true  Church,  to  wit, 
the  Romanist  or  Episcopal  Churches;  and  secondly,  by  the  ordi- 
nances of  baptism  as  administered  in  these  churches ;  and  what 
the  passage  does  decide,  is,  as  Calvinists  now  universally  agree 
in  believing,  that  there  is  every  reasonable  ground  to 

HOPE  that  all  INFANTS  DYING  IN  INFANCY  ARE  INCLUDED 
IN  THE  DECREE  OF  ELECTION  AND  ARE  MADE  PARTAKERS  OF 

EVERLASTING  LIFE.*  This,  then,  is  the  view  of  Calvinists; 
and  while  it  favours  the  most  unbounded  charity  and  hope,  it 
rests  that  hope,  not  upon  any  thing  in  the  infant  itself,  nor  upon 
any  thing  done  for  it  by  any  church,  but  upon  the  sure  purpose 
of  a  merciful  God,  and  the  comfortable  promises  and  declarations 
of  his  word. 

Among  all  evangelical  denominations  this  opinion  is  now  received. 
We  have  given  the  names  of  evangelical  Episcopalians.     Gil- 

*  Thas  Dr.  Gumming,  of  the  Scotch   Church  in   London,  has  lately  published  a 
Discourse  to  prove  that  all  children  dying  in  infancy,  or  before  the  years  of 

RESPONSIBILITY,  ARE,  WITHOUT  ONE  EXCEPTION  OR  LIMITATION  AS  TO  THE  CHARACTER 
OB  THE  CONDUCT  OF  THE  PARENTS,  SATED. 


38  CHILDREN    IN    HEAVEN. 

lard,  wliose  treatise  I  have  mentioned,  was,  I  presume,  both  a 
Baptist  and  a  Calvinist.  Dr.  Gill's  sentiments  have  been  alluded 
to,  and  they  are  quoted  with  approbation  in  the  Baptist  Confes- 
sion of  Faith.  The  Rev.  Robert  Robinson,  who  has  written  the 
History  of  Baptism,  thus  expresses  himself:  "  Various  opinions 
concerning  the  future  state  of  infants  have  been  adopted.  The 
most  probable  opinion  seems  to  be,  that  they  are  all  saved 
through  the  merit  of  the  Mediator,  with  an  everlasting  salvation. 
This  hath  nothing  in  it  contrary  to  the  perfections  of  God,  or  to 
any  declarations  of  the  holy  Scriptures  ;  and  it  is  highly  agree- 
able to  all  those  passages,  which  affirm,  where  sin  hath  abounded, 
grace  hath  micch  more  abounded.  On  these  principles,  the  death 
of  Christ  saves  more  than  the  fall  of  Adam  lost." 

"Wesley  does  not  appear  to  have  determined  this  question  at 
all.  The  salvation  of  all  dying  in  infancy  is,  however,  the  prev- 
alent belief  among  his  followers.  The  Rev.  Richard  Watson, 
who  is  deservedly  regarded  as  the  ablest  writer,  and  a  stand- 
ard authority,  among  the  Methodists,  very  powerfully  advocate? 
this  opinion.* 

This  is  also  the  established  belief  of  the  Lutheran  Church,t 
as  it  is  of  the  Quaker  denomination.^ 

But  whence,  we  ask,  arose  this  community  of  opinion  ?  It 
originated,  as  has  been  shown,  among  the  Calvinists.  The  battle 
for  liberty  and  charity  of  opinion  against  the  dogmas   of  the 

*  See  his  Institutes,  vol.  ii.  p.  228,  and  vol.  iii.  p.  72. 

t  See  Schmucker's  Theology,  p.  128,  and  p.  220.   .  Storr  &  Flatt's  Theology,  sec.  68, 
p.  394.     Mosheim  wrote  a  treatise,  which  we  have  not  seen,  on  this  subject. 
X  See  Barclay's  Apology. 


OPINIONS    ON    INFANT    SALVATION.  39 

church  was  fought  by  them.  Eveu  when  light  had  not  irradi- 
ated the  subject,  and  it  was  still  shrouded  in  the  darkness  of 
prejudice,  many  Calvinists,  rather  than  yield  to  the  gloom  of  the 
generally  entertained  opinion  that  all  unbaptized  infants  perish, 
groped  about  for  any  possible  theory  that  might  relieve  them 
of  their  distress.  Some,  as  I  have  shown,  threw  a  veil  of  im- 
penetrable darkness  over  the  whole  subject,  and  regarded  an 
entrance  upon  its  examination  as  presumption.*  Others  were 
induced  to  believe  that  the  souls  of  all  such  children  would  be 
annihilated.f  Others,  that  their  souls  remained  in  a  state  of  in- 
sensibility either  to  good  or  evil.J  All  advocated  the  possibility 
of  their  salvation — the  practicability  of  their  regeneration — and 
all  denied  the  absolute  necessity  of  baptism  to  either.  And  can 
any  one  deny  that  the  present  clear  and  settled  views  on  this 
subject  have  been  introduced  by  Calvinists  ?  Let  him  only  re- 
member that  every  one  of  the  works  and  discourses  on  the  sub- 
ject to  which  I  have  alluded,  were  written  by  Calvinists  ;  that 
•almost  all  the  selections  I  have  been  enabled  to  collect  are  from 
writers  holding  the  same  views ;  and  that  much  even  of  the  finest 
of  our  Poetical  Selections  are  from  authors  whose  muse  was 
guided  by  Calvinistic  views.  Our  work,  in  fact,  may  be  re- 
garded as  a  noble  testimony  to  the  truly  scriptural  and  chari- 
table nature  of  those  much  abused,  because  misunderstood,  doc- 
trines which  most  evangelical  churches  agree  in  adopting.  And 
surely  it  may  be  expected,  that  these  facts  will  give  joy  and  con- 

*  See  De  Moor,  Stapfer,  Doddridge,  (sec.  168,)  Baxter, 
t  This  was  Dr.  Watts's  laboured  hypothesis.     See  Works. 
J  Dr.  Kidgiey  advocated  this  opinion.     See  his  Divinity. 


40  CHILDREN    IN    HEAVEN. 

solation  to  those  Christians  whose  ideas  of  Calvinism  have  been 
such  as  to  lead  them  to  cherish  the  prejudices  that  are  so  (!om- 
monly  and  so  ignorantly  entertained,  and  enable  them  to  cherish 
more  kind  and  liberal  feelings  towa,rds  Calvinistic  churches. 

And  that  the  reader  may  still  more  clearly  perceive  how  much 
bereaved  parents  are  indebted  to  Calvinism  for  the  present  com- 
fortable and  established  hopes  for  dying  infants,  let  me  call  his 
attention  to  the  conflicting  opinions  which  once  prevailed  on  this 
much  controverted  subject,  as  they  are  given  by  Baxter  : 

"  Some  think  that  all  infants  (baptized  or  not)  are  saved  from 
hell,  and  positive  punishment,  but  are  not  brought  to  heaven,  as 
being  not  capable  of  such  joys. 

"  Some  think  that  all  infants  (dying  such)  are  saved  as  others 
are,  by  actual  felicity  in  heaven,  though  in  a  lower  degree.  Both 
these  sorts  suppose  that  Christ's  death  saveth  all  that  reject  it  not, 
and  that  infants  reject  it  not. 

"  Some  tliink  that  all  unbaptized  infants  do  suffer  the  'poenam 
damni,'  and  are  shut  out  of  heaven  and  happiness,  but  not  sensi- 
bly punished  or  cast  into  hell.  For  this  Jansenius  hath  wrote  a 
treatise ;  and  many  other  Papists  think  so. 

"  Some  think  that  all  the  children  of  sincere  believers  dying 
in  infancy  are  saved,  (that  is,  glorified,)  whether  baptized  or  not  j 
and  no  others. 

"  Some  think  that  God  hath  not  at  all  revealed  what  he  will 
do  with  any  infants. 

"  Some  think  that  all  the  adopted  and  bought  children  of 
true  Christians,  as  well  as  the  natural,  are  saved  (if  baptized, 
say  some ;  or  if  not,  say  others.) 


OPINIONS    ON    INFANT    SALVATION.  41 

"  Some  think  that  elect  infants  are  saved,  and  no  other. 

"  Some  think  that  all  that  the  pastor  dedicateth  to  God  are 
saved. 

"  Some  think  that  this  is  to  be  limited  to  all  that  have  right 
to  baptism  '  coram  Deo ;'  which  some  think  the  church's  recep- 
tion giveth  them. 

"  And  some  think  it  is  to  be  limited  to  those  that  have  right 
'  coram  ecclesia,'  or  are  rightfully  baptized." 

Bereaved  Parent !  what  would  be  the  aggravation  of  your  dis- 
tress if  still  plunged  in  this  vortex  of  conflicting  opinions  ?  and 
how  much,  therefore,  should  it  add  to  your  patient  resignation  to 
the  will  of  God  in  the  removal  of  your  children,  when  you  find 
that  all  branches  of  the  protestant  evangelical  church,  have  now 
come  to  a  common  and  united  belief,  that  there  is  every  reason  to 
hope,  that,  in  so  doing,  God  has  secured  their  salvation,  and  would 
also  lead  to  your  spiritual  and  everlasting  good. 


il^itbe  antr  Sunshine* 

MARGARET  JUNKIN. 

Eaeth  is  the  home  of  sorrow !  life, 

Though  joyful  it  appears, 
Is  given,  continued,  and  sustained, 

And  borne  away  in  tears. 
The  sentient  throngs  of  earth  and  air 

Join  Nature's  voice  to  keep 
Existence  festive, — man  alone 

Is  privileged  to  weep. 

Sweet  as  the  "  music  of  the  spheres " 

Ci'eation's  hymn  should  be. 
Yet  evermore  the  human  voice 

Is  wailing  mournfully; 
And  'mid  the  still  majestic  strain 

Of  praise  and  psean  high. 
Are  mingled  death's  despamng  shriek. 

And  hopeless  misery's  cry. 

The  earliest  beams  of  every  mom 
Fall  on  some  mourner's  head, 

42 


SHADE    AND    SUNSHINE.  43 

And  flit  in  mockery  across 

The  dying  and  the  dead; 
The  light  of  every  parting  sun 

Finds  sorrowful  repose 
On  new-made  graves,  whose  turf  was  still 

Unbroken  when  he  rose. 

The  trembling  stars  look  nightly  down 

On  brows  that,  'mid  the  glare 
Of  day,  when  all  were  smiling  round, 

Seemed  glad  as  any  there: 
But  in  the  darkened  solitude 

The  mask  aside  is  thrown. 
And  the  crushed  spirit  speaks  its  woe 

Before  its  God  alone. 

And  yet  it  is  not  ceaseless  wail 

That  earthly  voices  raise; 
For  some  have  learned  the  symphony, 

And  joined  the  song  of  praise. 
Ah,  tear-dimmed  eyes  must  long  have  closed, 

Had  not  a  hand  of  love 
Upheld  the  faltering  step,  and  turned 

The  wandering  gazo  above! 

Then,  with  divinely  lighted  eye, 

They  read  their  sufferings  o'er. 
And  find  a  meanino-  in  their  grief 

Thoy  failed  to  find  before : 


44  CHILDREN     IN    HEAVEN. 

A  beauty  touches  all  the  past, 

And  from  the  future  fled 
Is  every  fear, — and  stars  of  hope 

Are  shining  overhead. 

Who  then  can  call  this  glorious  world, 

With  such  a  radiance,  dim 
And  desolate,  since  on  its  sky 

Is  stamped  the  seal  of  Hira, 
Who,  in  His  rich  magnificence. 

Has  lavished  all  abroad 
A  splendour  that  could  only  spring 

Beneath  the  hand  of  God ! 

No,  Earth  has  something  more  than  gloom, 

And  pain,  and  sickening  fear, 
For  holy  Peace  has  often  come. 

And  made  its  dwelling  here; 
Nor  ever  will  it  quite  depart, 

Until  our  closing  eyes 
Are  turned  from  Earth,  to  find  in  Heaven 

A  fideless  paradise  I 


BICKERSTETH. 

With  thankful  hearts  our  songs  we  raise, 
To  celebrate  our  Saviour's  praise; 
Yet  who  but  saints  in  heaven  above, 
Can  tell  the  riches  of  his  love  ? 

His  love,  with  gentle  accents,  sheds 
A  blessing  on  our  infants'  heads; 
Bids  us  for  infants  seek  his  face, 
And  ask  for  them  renewing  grace. 

He,  the  good  Shepherd,  kindly  leads 
The  wanderer,  and  the  hungry  feeds ; 
Deigns  in  his  arms  the  lambs  to  bear, 
And  makes  them  his  peculiar  care. 

Jesus,  to  thy  protecting  wing 

Our  helpless  little  ones  we  bring; 

O  grant  them  grace  and  strength,  that  they 

^lay  find  and  keep  the  heavenward  way. 

45 


f  sncli  is  iht  linijbom.  * 

MRS.  MARY  S.  B.  DANA. 

I  DEARLY  love  a  little  child, 
And  Jesus  loved  young  children  too ; 
He  ever  sweetly  on  them  smiled, 
And  placed  them  with  his  chosen  few. 
When,  cradled  on  its  mother's  breast, 
A  babe  was  brought  to  Jesus'  feet, 
He  laid  his  hand  upon  its  head. 
And  blessed  it  with  a  promise  sweet. 

"Forbid  them  not!"  the  Saviour  said, 
"Oh  I  suffer  them  to  come  to  me  I 
Of  such  my  heavenly  kingdom  is — 
Like  them  may  all  my  followers  be !" 
Young  children  are  the  gems  of  earth, 
The  brightest  jewels  mothers  have; 
They  sparkle  on  the  throbbing  breast, 
But  brighter  shine  beyond  the  grave. 

46 


the  Amth  of  jirief. 

J.  G.  WHITTIER. 

With  silence  only  as  their  benediction, 

God's  angels  come, 
Where  in  the  shadow  of  a  great  affliction, 

The  soul  sits  dumb. 

Yet  would  we  say,  what  every  heart  approveth, 

Our  Father's  Avill, 
Calling  to  him  the  dear  ones  whom  he  loveth. 

Is  mercy  still. 

Not  upon  us  or  ours  the  solemn  angel 

Hath  evil  wrought; 
The  funeral  anthem  is  a  glad  evangel, 

The  good  die  not! 

God  calls  our  loved  ones,  but  we  lose  not  wholly 

What  he  has  given ; 
They  live  on  earth  in  thought  and  deed  as  truly 

As  in  his  heaven. 

47 


Wn   a    Mnk   Jnfant. 

JOHN  MILTON. 

O  FAIREST  flower,  no  sooner  shown  than  blasted, 
Soft,  silken  primrose,  fading  timelessly, 

Summer's  chief  honour,  if  thou  hadst  outlasted 
Bleak  Winter's  force  that  made  thy  blossom  dry; 
For  he,  being  amorous  on  that  lovely  dye 

That  did  thy  cheek  envermeil,  thought  to  kiss. 

But  killed,  alas!  and  then  bewailed  his  fatal  bliss. 

Yet  can  I  not  persuade  me  thou  art  dead. 

Or  that  thy  corse  corrupts  in  earth's  dark  womb, 

Or  that  thy  beauties  lie  in  wormy  bed, 

Hid  from  the  world  in  a  low  delved  tomb. 
Could  Heaven,  for  pity,  thee  so  strictly  doom? 

Oh,  no!  for  something  in  thy  face  did  shine 

Above  mortality,  that  showed  thou  wast  divine. 

Ah !  wert  thou  of  the  golden-winged  host. 
Who,  having  clad  thyself  in  human  weed. 

To  earth  from  thy  prefixed  seat  didst  post. 
And  after  short  abode  fly  back  with  speed. 
As  if  to  show  what  creatures  heaven  doth  breed ; 

48 


ON    A     FAIR    INFANT.  49 

Tlierel)y  to  set  the  hearts  of  men  on  fire, 

To  scorn  the  sordid  world,  and  unto  heaven  aspire. 

But,  oh!  why  didst  thou  not  stay  here  below? 
To  bless  us  with  thy  heaven-loved  innocence. 

To  slake  his  wrath  whom  sin  hath  made  our  foe. 
To  turn  swift-rushing,  black  Perdition  hence, 
Or  drive  away  the  slaughtering  Pestilence,  ' 

To  stand  'twixt  us  and  our  deserved  smart? 

But  thou  canst  best  perform  that  office  where  thou  art. 

Then  thou,  the  mother  of  so  sweet  a  child, 
Her  false-imagined  loss  cease  to  lament. 

And  wisely  think  to  curb  thy  sorrows  wild ; 
Think  what  a  present  thou  to  God  hast  sent. 
And  render  him  with  patience  what  he  lent ; 

This,  if  thou  do,  he  will  an  offspring  give. 

That,  till  the  world's  last   end,  shall  make  thy  name  to  live. 


feirin    fdst    §ixrhj    #ubetr. 

GEORGE  W.  BETHUNE,  D.D. 

AYiTHix  lier  downy  cradle  there  lay  a  little  child, 
And  a  group  of  hovering  angels  unseen  upon  her  smiled ; 
A  strife  arose  among  them,  a  loving,  holy  strife, 
AVhich    should    shed  the    richest   blessing    o'er   the   new-born 
life. 

One  breathed  upon  her  features,  and  the  babe  in  beauty  grew, 
"With  a  cheek   like    morning's   blushes,  and  an  eye    of   azure 

hue; 
Till  every  one  who  saw  her,   was    thankful  for  the  sight 
Of  a  face  so  sweet  and  radiant  with  ever  fresh  delight. 

Another  gave  her  accents,  and  a  voice  as  musical 

As  a  spring  bird's  joyous  carol,  or  a  rijipling  streamlet's  fall ; 

Till  all    who    heard   her    laughing,  or   her  words  of  childish 

grace. 
Loved  as  much  to  listen  to  her,  as  to  look  upon  her  face. 

Another  brought  from  heaven  a  clear  and  gentle  mind. 
And  within  the  lovely  casket  the  precious  gem  enshrined; 
Till  all  who  knew  her  wondered,  that  God  should  be  so  good, 
As  to  bless  witli  such  a  spirit  our  desert  world  and  rude. 

50 


EARLY    LOST,     EARLY    SAVED.  51 

Thus  did  she  grow  in  beauty,  in  melody  and  truth. 
The  budding  of  her  childhood  just  opening  into  youth ; 
And  to  our  hearts  yet  dearer,  every  moment  than  before, 
She  became,  though  we  thought  fondly,  heart  could  not  love 
her  more. 

Then  out-spake  another  angel,  nobler,  brighter  than  the  rest, 
As  with  strong  arm,  but  tender,  he  caught  her  to  his  breast; 
"  Ye  have  made  her  all  too  lovely  for  a  child  of  mortal  race, 
But  no  shade  of  human  sorrow  shall  darken  o'er  her  face. 

"Ye  have  tuned  to  gladness  only  the  accents  of  her  tongue, 
And  no  wail  of  human  anguish  shall  from  her  lips  be  wrung; 
Nor  shall  the  soul  that  shineth  so  purely  from  within 
Her  form  of  earth-born  frailty,  ever  know  the  taint  of  sin. 

"Lulled  in  my  faithful  bosom,  I  will  bear  her  far  away. 
Where  there  is  no  sin,  nor  anguish,  nor  sorrow,  nor  decay; 
And  mine  a  boon  more  glorious  than  all  your  gifts  shall  be — 
Lo!  I  crown  her  happy  spirit  with  immortality!" 
Then  on  his  heart  our  darling  yielded  up  her  gentle  breath. 
For   the   stronger,  brighter    angel,   who   loved    her   best,  was 

DEATH  ! 


tittle    @nts    ^mtt0    ^omt. 

"Suffer  little  children  to  come  unto  me,  and  forbid  them  not;  for  of  such  is  the 
kingdom  of  heaven." 

They  are  going — only  going — 

Jesus  called  them  long  ago; 
All  the  wintry  time  they're  passing 

Softly  as  the  falling  snow. 
When  the  violets  in  the  spring-time 

Catch  the  azure  of  the  sky, 
They  are  carried  out  to  slumber 

Sweetly  where  the  violets  lie. 

They  are  going — only  going — • 

When  with  summer  earth  is  dressed, 
In  their  cold  hands  holding  roses 

Folded  to  each  silent  breast; 
When  the  autumn  hangs  red  banners 

Out  above  the  harvest  sheaves, 
They  are  going — ever  going — 

Thick  and  fast,  like  falling  leaves. 

All  along  the  mighty  ages, 
All  adown  the  solemn  time, 

52 


LITTLE    ONES    GOING    HOME.  53 

They  have  taken  up  their  homeward 

March  to  that  sereuer  clime, 
Where  the  watching,  waiting  angels 

Lead  them  from  the  shadow  dim, 
To  the  brightness  of  His  presence 

Who  has  called  them  unto  him. 

They  are  going — only  going — 

Out  of  pain  and  into  bliss — 
Out  of  sad  and  sinful  weakness 

Into  perfect  holiness. 
Sno'svy  brows — no  care  shall  shaie  them; 

Bright  eyes — tears  shall  never  dim ; 
Eosy  lips — no  time  shall  fade  them ; 

Jesus  called  them  unto  him. 

Hearts  to  be  for  ever  stainless — 

Hands  to  be  as  pure  as  they — 
Little  feet  by  angels  guided 

I^ever  in  forbidden  way ! 
They  are  going — ever  going  ! 

Leaving  many  a  lonely  spot ; 
But  'tis  Jesus  who  has  called  them — 

Suffer,  and  forbid  them  not. 


|re   Infants    |ab^b?* 

DAVID  M'CONODGHY,  D.D. 

"  It  is  not  the  will  of  your  Father  which  is  in  heaven,  that  one  of  these  little 
ones  should  perish." — Matt,  xviii.  14. 

The  birth  of  human  beings  is  a  momentous  event,  nor  are 
tliey  less  interesting  in  actual  possession  and  enjoyment.  He  who 
perfectly  knows  the  human  heart,  recognizes  it  as  most  rare  and 
unnatural  that  "  a  mother  should  forget  her  sucking  child,  and 
cease  to  have  compassion  on  the  son  of  her  womb."  How  ten- 
derly are  they  caressed!  what  yearnings  of  affection  move  a 
mother's  heart !  what  surpassing  endearment  and  anxious  concern 
are  felt!  Care  expended  augments  interest.  Dangers  appre- 
hended increase  affectionate  estimation.  Watchfulness  and  toils 
only  give  greater  vehemence  to  ardent  and  solicitous  concern  for 
the  object  beloved.  Nor  is  the  father's  heart  without  its  devo- 
tion and  attachment,  though  its  emotions  may  not  be  so  vivid,  or 
its  tenderness  so  deep  and  constraining.  Even  relatives  and 
friends  share  the  sympathy  and  interest :  and  they  are  strangers 
to  the  promptings  of  nature  who  can  regard  with  indifference 
the  tender  and  endearing  claims  of  infancy.  Its  smiles,  and 
even  its  tears,  its  comparative  innocence  and  helpless  dependence, 

•  Tract  No.  132,  Presbyterian  Board  of  Publication. 
54 


ARE    INFANTS    SAVED?  55 

its  germs  of  intellect  and  affection,  what  it  is,  and  what  it  may 
yet  be,  elicit  deep  solicitude  and  present  claims  to  the  sympathy 
of  every  benevolent  heart.  I  add  that  they  are  objects  of  very 
sjiecial  interest  prosjiectivdy.  Their  character  as  intelligent, 
moral  and  immortal  beings  gives  to  them  importance  beyond  all 
tlie  present  and  immediate  interest  felt.  They  may  now  present 
many  reasons  of  affectionate  regard ;  but  the  developments  which 
their  progressive  years  may  exhibit  are  of  paramount  concern 
and  importance.  We  admire  the  flower  so  sweet  and  beauteous, 
but  on  its  future  fruits  depends  its  chief  importance.  Its 
eminence  of  interest  results  not  from  what  it  noAV  is,  but  from 
what  it  will  be  in  its  maturity.  It  is  not  only  a  living  creature, 
but  one  which  is  destined  to  responsibility.  It  is  to  form  a 
character  which  is  to  last  for  ever,  sustain  a  place  among  men — 
if  it  live — be  a  benefactor  or  a  curse  to  the  world,  and  receive 
in  eternity  the  retribution  which  an  unerring  Judge  will  award. 
What  unutterable  interest  results  from  these  facts !  To  every 
considerate  mind  what  deep  solemnity  is  in  the  question — what 
is  this  child  to  be?  If  life  be  prolonged,  and  its  bodily,  mental, 
and  moral  powers  be  developed  and  brought  into  operation,  what 
will  be  its  character  and  influence  ?  will  it  bring  joy  to  its  parents, 
or  anguish  ? — will  it  be  to  the  world  useful,  or  useless  and  nox- 
ious? will  it  be  honoured,  or  despised?  will  it  be  happy,  or 
wretched  ? 

There  is  another  anxious  question — will  their  lives  be  pro- 
longed, or  will  they  die  in  infancy?  will  they  live  to  mature 
years,  or  be  cut  down  as  a  flower  ?  Plow  often  is  this  matter  of 
painful  apprehension ! — how  often  of  sad  reality,  of  most  poig- 


56  CIIILDREX    IX    HEAVEN. 

nant  grief,  of  hopes  blasted,  and  of  fondly  clierislied  expecta- 
tions utterly  disappointed  ! 

And  there  is  still  another  most  tender  and  serious  question. 
Tf  they  thus  early  die,  what  Mall  be  their  future  allotment  and 
condition  ?  As  to  the  future  condition  of  those  who  die  in  in- 
fancy, there  have  been  much  conjecture  and  many  conflicting 
opinions.  I  will  not  enumerate  nor  examine  them.  One 
opinion  only  can  be  true.  What  God  teaches  must  be  true. 
Christ,  the  faithful  and  true  witness,  as  the  expounder  of  his 
Father's  will,  affirms — "  It  is  not  the  will  of  your  Father  who 
is  in  heaven  that  one  of  these  little  ones  should  perish." 

In  attempting  to  present  a  correct  view  of  tliis  most  interest- 
ing case,  I  make  the  following  remarks  : — 

1st.  Inflmts  in  their  original  character  and  condition  are 
liable  to  perish.  There  are  no  testimonies  of  Scripture,  nor  ai'e 
there  any  facts  in  their  actual  condition  and  character,  which 
warrant  the  opinion  that  they  are  exempt  from  "  original  guilt 
and  depravity."  In  Adam  all  descending  from  him  by  ordinary 
generation,  die.  They  inherit  depravity,  and  are  liable  to  death 
and  other  penal  evils.  That  they  are  the  subjects  of  sufferings 
and  death  is  a  matter  of  notorious  and  indisputable  fact ;  and  the 
first  dnd  continuous  developments  of  their  moral  character  are  no 
less  proofs  of  connate  depravity,  and  that  every  imagination  of 
the  thoughts  of  their  heart  "  from  their  youth  is  only  evil,  con- 
tiimally."  The  whole  human  race,  inflints  not  excepted,  are  "  by 
nature  children  of  wrath."  "There  is  none  rig-hteous  :  no  :  not 
one."  If  they  remain  in  this  condition  they  must  inevitably 
perish.     Death,  already,  has  dominion  over  them.     In,  or  by 


ARE    INFANTS    SAVED?  57 

tliemsclvcs,  from  this  ruin  there  is  no  possibility  of  escape ;  and 
no  created  power  can  effect  their  redemption.  By  the  righteous 
judgment  of  God  this  ruin  has  befallen  them,  and  nothing  less 
than  his  own  gracious  purpose  and  power  can  avert  the  disastrous 
result.  But  if  he  so  wills,  "  not  one  of  these  little  ones  will 
perish,"  but  they  will  be  "  saved  to  the  praise  of  the  glory  of 
his  grace." 

I  remark,  2dly,  That  infants,  just  like  all  other  human  beings, 
if  saved,  are  saved  only  through  the  mediation  of  Christ. 
"  There  is  none  other  name  under  heaven  given  among  men 
whereby  we  must  be  saved,  neither  is  there  salvation  in  any 
other."  Of  the  righteousness  of  that  dispensation  by  which  the 
whole  race  was  lost  in  Adam  it  would  be  impious  to  doubt.  It 
is  a  fact.  To  its  full  vindication  we  may  be  incompetent ;  but 
the  all-wise  God  had  good  and  sufficient  reasons  for  ordering  it 
thus ;  and  in  this  as  ever,  he  is  "  righteous  in  all  his  ways  and 
holy  in  all  his  works."  So  the  issue  will  certainly  and  clearly 
show  5  and  grace  will  reign  through  righteousness  in  all  who  are 
saved.  If  the  condemnation  and  ruin  of  all  in  Adam  be  right- 
eous,— and  who  in  defiance  of  facts  and  the  testimony  of  Scrip- 
ture will  deny  it? — the  moral  government  of  God  must  have  its 
full  vindication  when  that  condemnation  and  ruin  are  averted. 
He  must  be  just  when  he  saves  sinners  ;  and  if,  as  some  allege, 
infants  and  all  men  were  restored  by  Christ  to  a  salvable  state  or 
opportunity  of  salvation,  they  must  antecedently  have  been  guilty 
and  perishing.  Christ  did  not  die  to  save  those  who  were  in  no 
danger,  or  whose  perdition  could  not  have  been  just.  If  Christ 
died  to  save  men,  without  his  death  hey  had  perished,  and  that 


58  CHILDEEN     IX     IIEAVEX. 

justly.  God  did  not  require  of  him  a  ransom  price  for  what  had 
not  been  justly  forfeited  and  lost.  His  death  for  sinners  justice 
indispensably  required,  or  for  them  he  had  never  died.  Re- 
demption through  Christ  is  a  distinct  recognition  of  the  righteous- 
ness of  the  Adamic  dispensation.  The  interposition  of  Christ 
was  a  sovereign  and  gracious  dispensation  in  behalf  of  those  who 
might  have  justly  been  left  to  perish.  Scripture  and  facts  prove 
that  infants  need  salvation.  In  Christ  there  is  salvation,  but  not 
in  any  other.  If  saved  it  must  be  through  his  mediation,  and  in 
him  there  is  all  that  salvation  Avhich  their  case  requires.  Such 
as  die  in  infancy  have  no  actual  sins  to  be  pardoned,  but  they 
need  a  removal  of  original  guilt,  or  that  liability  to  penal  evils 
under  which  they  are.  They  need  a  righteousness  which  will 
entitle  them  to  the  glory  and  felicity  of  heaven,  which  can  be  con- 
ferred only  on  account  of  the  righteousness  of  Christ  reckoned 
to  them  as  their  meritorious  title  to  eternal  life.  And  no  less  do 
they  necessarily  require  the  "  washing  of  regeneration,  and  the 
renewing  of  the  Holy  Ghost."  Without  the  removal  of  their 
depravity  and  the  positive  impartation  of  a  holy  character,  they 
cannot  be  admitted  to  heaven,  or  enjoy  happiness  there.  This 
ueedful  salvation  Christ  alone  bestows.  He  can  bestow  it,  and 
if  he  does,  infants  thus  become  "  fit  for  the  inheritance  of  the 
saints  in  light."  They  are  thus  prepared  to  be  inhabitants  of 
that  kingdom  of  heaven  where  God,  their  Saviour,  and  all  his 
redeemed,  are  in  the  possession  of  "  fulness  of  joy  and  pleasures 
for  evermore." 

I  remark,  3dly,  That  redemption  by  Christ,  as  respects  moral 
government,  in  this  case,  has  removed  all  hinderanccs   to  their 


ARE    INFANTS    SAVED?  59 

salvation.  By  his  holy  life,  his  perfect  obedience  to  the  law 
under  which  man  is,  and  by  his  full  endurance  of  the  penalty  as 
incurred  by  man's  transgression,  he  has  brought  in  a  right- 
eousness which  will  fully  avail  for  salvation  to  all  to  whom  God 
graciously  reckons  it.  In  the  case  of  infants  their  personal  ac- 
ceptance and  appropriation  of  Christ  for  their  salvation  is  im- 
possible ;  but  if  God  so  Avills,  the  benefit  in  all  its  fulness  may 
be  bestowed  on  them.  The  everlasting  righteousness  is  brought 
in  and  the  whole  law  is  magnified  and  made  honourable.  Ac- 
cording to  my  understanding  of  the  Scripture,  Christ,  as  the 
second  Adam,  assumed  the  responsibility  which  rested  on  man  as 
to  the  law  which  he  had  violated,  which  responsibility  and 
obligation  were,  to  render  the  perfect  obedience  which  fallen  man 
could  not  now  render,  and  endure  its  penalty,  which  would  have 
consigned  the  whole  race  to  utter  and  endless  ruin.  To  this 
obligation  he  fully  responded.  The  justice  of  God  by  his 
obedience  unto  death  is  fully  satisfied,  and  the  honour  and  re- 
quirements of  the  law,  as  they  respect  man,  are  vindicated  in 
full  measure.  God  can  now  be  just  in  bestowing  salvation  on 
all,  or  as  many  as  may  accord  with  his  infinite  Avisdom  and 
sovereign  good  pleasure.  The  demands  of  the  divine  law 
and  justice  interpose  no  impediment  to  the  salvation  of  infants. 

I  remark,  4thly,  That  the  salvation  of  infants  is  a  case  which 
wholly  depends  on  the  will  of  God.  Whatever  opinions  may  be 
entertained  as  to  the  ability  of  man,  when  adult,  to  "  work  out 
his  own  salvation,"  or  whatever  concurrence  he  may  be  supposed 
to  exert  with  divine  grace,  this  case  wholly  excludes  them  all. 
Infants  are  not  moral  agents,  in  such  meas  ire,  as  to  be  car-'' 


60  CHILDREN    IN    HEAVEN. 

of  any  efficiency,  voluntary  agency,  or  co-operation.  If  they  be 
saved,  it  must  be  entirely  by  the  sovereign  mercy  and  positive 
operation  of  God.  If  it  be  his  will  that  not  one  of  them  should 
perish,  they  will  be  certainly  saved.  No  other  will  can  here  in- 
terpose.    Salvation  is  of  God  only ;  will  he  not  save  them  ? 

In  this  connexion  I  add,  that,  in  so  far  as  I  am  aware,  actual 
sin,  or  the  rejection  of  offered  mercy,  is  always,  in  Scripture, 
assigned  as  the  reason  why  any  perish.  I  have  asserted  the 
liability  of  infants  to  perish,  unless  grace  tlirough  the  mediation 
of  Christ  interpose ;  but  I  allege  that  Scripture  always  recognizes 
voluntary  agency,  and  the  consequent  responsibility,  as  reasons 
of  condemnation ; — that  they  who  perish  knew  thek'  duty  and 
did  it  not.  On  perdition  for  original  guilt  and  depravity,  with- 
out actual  sin,  the  Scriptures  are  silent.  We  of  course  have  no 
authority  to  affirm  it :  but  may  not  this  silence  encourage  the 
opinion  that  infants  are  of  those  who  are  saved  by  the  grace  of 
God  abounding  through  his  Son  ?  Erskine,  in  liis  "  Gospel 
Sonnets,"  representing  the  redeemed  of  every  class  as  alleging 
their  special  and  pre-eminent  reasons  to  give  glory  to  God  for  his 
saving  grace,  concludes — 

Babes  thither  caught  from  womb  and  bfeast. 
Claim  right  to  sing  above  the  rest ; 
Because  they  found  the  happy  shore, 
They  neither  saw  nor  sought  before. 

All  redeemed  sinners  owe  their  salvation  to  sovereign  grace, 
and  have  reason  for  holy  wonder  and  for  everlasting  praise  r  but 
the  salvation  of  influits  is  with  peculiar  circumstances  of  favour. 
They  are  exempted  from  the  tedious,  toilsome,  dangerous  journey 


AKE    INFANTS    SAVED?  61 

of  life,  which  is  the  allotment  of  those  whose  years  are  prolonged. 
Witliout  a  knowledge  of  their  fall  and  ruin,  they  are  rescued 
from  danger  and  from  sin.  Without  repentance,  faith,  hope,  or 
effort,  they  inherit  "  fulness  of  joy  and  pleasures  for  evermore." 
Like  tender  plants,  the  natives  of  bleak  and  chilling  climes,  they 
are  transplanted  to  grow  and  bloom,  and  produce  their  precious 
fruits,  under  the  genial  warmth  and  propitious  influences  of  the 
heavenly  paradise.  The  process  of  their  eradication  may  be  with 
violence  and  momentary  injury,  but  that  will  be  fully  compen- 
sated by  the  more  favoured  condition  in  which  they  will  attain 
their  beauty  and  maturity,  where  no  adverse  causes  will  ever  in- 
terpose. 

There  is  another  consideration  which  is  worthy  of  notice.  I 
refer  to  the  manner  in  which  the  sacred  record  speaks  of  the 
death  of  infants.  It  never  suggests  the  notion  of  their  death 
being  accompanied  with  the  wrath  of  God  against  them  specially 
and  individually.  Their  death  is  sometimes  mentioned  as  con- 
stituting a  part  of  the  calamity  where  guilty  cities  or  nations  are 
visited  by  the  signal  judgments  of  God.  They  are  cut  off  by 
death  in  common  with  their  parents  who  had  provoked  the  Di- 
vine displeasure,  and  as  an  aggravation  of  the  general  calamity. 
Elsewhere,  they  die  as  trials  of  the  faith  and  resignation  of  their 
parents ;  sometimes  as  the  chastisement  of  their  unfaithfulness, 
or  as  a  judgment  for  their  sins.  But  they  were  not  the  actual 
offenders,  nor  are  they  recognized  as  the  direct  objects  of  the  Di- 
vine displeasure  thus  manifested.  The  death  of  wicked  and  un- 
believing men  is  represented  as  ^^Tathful  and  utterly  ruinous." 
"They  are  driven  away  in  their  wickedness" — "they  die  in 


62  CHILDREN    IN    HEAVEN. 

their  sins "—"  their  hopes  perish "—"  they  are  cast  into  hell 
where  their  worm  dieth  not."  No  such  wrathful  declarations 
are  connected  with  the  death  of  infants ;  but  wherever  anything 
seems  to  be  implied  as  to  their  future  state,  it  is  peaceful  and 
soothing.  Such  I  judge  to  be  the  fact  always.  I  will  refer  to 
a  few  cases  which  now  occur  to  me,  as  of  special  import  in  this 
respect. 

Tlie  first  is  the  death  of  the  first  child  of  David,  king  of  Is- 
rael, by  Bathsheba.  During  the  child's  illness  he  fasted  and 
wept ; — on  its  death  he  ceased  from  his  grief  and  said,  "  Now 
he  is  dead,  wherefore  should  I  fast  ?  Can  I  bring  him  back 
again  ?  I  shall  go  to  him,  but  he  shall  not  return  to  me."  Did 
he  mean,  merely,  that  he  would  at  his  death  follow  him  to  the 
tomb  ?  That  presented  no  ground  of  consolation.  It  might  be 
understood  as  a  recognition  of  his  own  mortality,  and  of  his 
humble  acquiescence  in  the  bereavement  which  he  had  experi- 
enced, but  not  of  sustaining  faith,  fond  anticipation  and  soothing 
hope.  That  would  imply  the  expectation  of  a  reunion  with  him 
in  that  better  world,  in  which  he  himself  hoped  to  dwell  after  he 
had  completed  his  pilgrimage  and  finished  the  work  which  was 
assigned  him,  of  serving  his  generation  according  to  the  will  of 
God.  He  sorrowed  not  as  tliose  who  have  no  hope,  but  cher- 
ished cheerful  anticipation  as  well  as  peaceful  submission  to  the 
will  of  God. 

Another  case  is  that  of  the  pious  Shunammite,  recorded  in 
2  Kings,  ch.  iv.  When  her  son  had  suddenly  died,  she  hastened 
to  visit  the  prophet  Elisha.  On  her  near  approach,  the  prophet 
sent  his  servant  to  meet  her,  and  to  ask,  "  Is  it  well  with  thee  ? 


ARE    INFANTS    SAVED?  63 

is  it  well  with  thy  husband  ?  is  it  well  with  the  child  ?"  And 
she  answered,  "  It  is  Avell."  How  could  she  so  answer  in  rela- 
tion to  her  child  who  was  dead,  and  for  aught  she  knew,  irre- 
coverably ?  If  no  future  existence  nor  future  bliss  awaited  the 
recently  living  object  of  her  fond  affections,  how  was  it  well 
with  it?  Such  a  fact  might  claim  humble  acquiescence,  but 
presented  no  consolation,  no  Ibnd  anticipation  nor  soothing  hope; 
but  with  good  reason  she  might  say,  "It  is  well,"  if  she  believed 
that  her  departed  son  was  removed  to  heaven,  and  was  then  an 
heir  of  immortal  life.  Parental  affection  cannot  find  the  needful 
consolation  in  the  waste,  the  dreariness  and  the  silence  of  the  grave. 
It  looks  and  longs  and  hopes  for  the  continued  conscious  exist- 
ence and  happier  condition  of  those  whom  they  had  so  fondly 
caressed  and  so  dearly  loved.  Is  not  this  desire,  so  natural,  an 
earnest  of  what  is  the  will  and  purpose  of  God  ?  Over  the  death 
of  infants  the  sacred  record  casts  no  appalling  gloom,  but  rather 
irradiates  it  with  promises  of  peace  and  earnests  of  immortality. 

The  unnatural  and  horrid  crime  of  the  people  of  Israel  in 
sacrificing  their  children  to  Moloch,  is  thus  denounced  by  the 
prophet  Jeremiah :  "  And  in  thy  skirts  is  found  the  blood  of 
the  souls  of  the  innocents."  This  phrase,  "the  innocents,"  is 
twice  used  by  the  prophet  to  denote  the  death  of  infants.  This 
is  not  designed  to  affirm  their  innocence  in  the  sight  of  God 
but  to  denote  the  cruelty  of  this  conduct  as  the  act  of  man ;  and 
that  their  death  was  not  the  infliction  of  the  wrath  of  God,  but  a 
murderous  deed  of  vile  idolatry  which  God  abhorred  and  con- 
demned. Their  age  and  condition  render  them  comparatively 
innocent.     Thev  have  not  the  guilt  of  actual  transgressors,  and 


64  CHILDREN     IX     HEAVEN. 

their  death  is  never  rej^resented  with  those  circumstances  of  Di- 
vine displeasure  and  vengeance  which  are  associated  with  the 
death  of  willul  and  actual  sinners. 

5tli.  The  declarations  of  Christ  in  relation  to  infants  or  little 
children  imply  that  they  will  be  heirs  of  everlasting  life.  Con- 
descension and  kindness  characterized  all  his  intercourse  with 
men.  Obscurity  of  rank  or  humility  of  condition  he  did  not 
overlook.  "  To  the  poor  the  gospel  was  preached ;"  and  the 
afflicted,  and  such  as  worldly  pride  disdained,  were  the  objects 
of  his  special  notice  and  kindness.  Little  children  he  treated 
with  distinguishing  favour  and  peculiar  regard.  This  fact  is  full 
of  tenderness,  and  has  much  instructive  meaning.  His  language 
and  actions  are  most  explicit  and  affectionate.  On  difPerent  oc- 
casions children  are  incidentally  noticed ;  but  one  case  deserves 
distinct  consideration.  It  is  minutely  and  almost  in  the  same 
words  recorded  by  three  evangelists,  Matthew,  Mark,  and  Luke. 
— Matthew  thus  records  it,  xix.  15  :  "Then  were  there  brought 
unto  him  little  children,  that  he  should  put  his  hands  on  them 
and  pray;  and  the  disciples  rebuked  them.  But  Jesus  said, 
Suffer  little  children,  and  forbid  them  not,  to  come  unto  me ; 
for  of  such  is  the  kingdom  of  heaven."  What  is  the  meaning 
of  this  express  declaration  ?  On  this  phrase,  George  Campbell, 
an  eminent  critic,  remarks :  "  It  is  often  rightly  translated  '  the 
kingdom  of  heaven,'  as  it  is,  manifestly,  often  applied  to  the 
state  of  perfect  felicity  to  be  enjoyed  in  the  world  to  come."  If 
we  so  understand  it  here, — and  I  know  of  no  reason  which  for- 
bids,— it  is  an  explicit  affirmation,  by  him  who  not  only  knows 
what  ^vill  be,  but  himself  "  holds  the  keys  of  death,  and  of  the 


ARE    INFANTS     SAVED?  65 

unseen  world,"  that  of  them,  and  of  those  who  by  renewing 
grace  are  made  like  to  them,  will  the  inhabitants  of  the  heav- 
enly world  consist.  Henry  on  this  case  remarks,  "  Little  chil- 
dren are  welcome  to  Christ  as  respects  themselves,  for  whom  he 
has  upon  all  occasions  expressed  a  concern ;  and  who  having 
participated  of  the  malignant  influences  of  the  first  Adam's  sin, 
must  needs  share  in  the  riches  of  the  second  Adam's  grace ;  else, 
what  would  come  of  the  apostle's  parallel  in  1  Cor.  xv.  22,  and 
in  Rom.  v.  14,  15,  &c. ?"  Doddridge  says,  "Let  parents  view 
this  sight  with  pleasure  and  thankfulness ;  let  it  encourage  them 
to  bring  their  children  to  Christ  by  faith,  and  to  commit  them 
to  him  in  baptism  and  by  prayer ;  and  if  he  who  '  has  the  keys 
of  death  and  of  the  unseen  world '  see  fit  to  remove  those  dear 
creatures  from  us  in  their  early  days,  let  the  remembrance  of 
this  story  comfort  us,  and  teach  us  to  hope  that  he  who  so  gra- 
ciously received  these  children  has  not  forgotten  ours ;  but  that 
they  are  sweetly  fallen  asleep  in  him,  and  will  be  the  everlasting 
objects  of  his  care  and  love;  'for  of  such  is  the  kingdom  of 
heaven.' "  On  this  affirmation.  Dr.  Scott  remarks,  "  Indeed, 
the  expression  may  also  intimate  that  the  kingdom  of  heavenly 
glory  is  greatly  constituted  of  such  as  die  in  infancy.  Infimts 
are  as  capable  of  regeneration  as  grown  persons ;  and  there  is 
abundant  ground  to  conclude  that  all  those  who  have  not  lived 
to  commit  actual  transgressions,  though  they  share  in  the  effects 
of  the  first  Adam's  offence,  will  also  share  in  the  blessings  of  the 
second  Adam's  gracious  covenant,  without  their  personal  faith 
and  obedience,  but  not  without  the  regenerating  influence  of  the 
Spirit  of  Christ.' 


66  CHILDREN     IN     HEAVEN. 

By  "  the  kingdom  of  heaven  "  and  "  the  kingdom  of  God,"  in 
Scripture  language,  is  sometimes  meant  the  gospel  church ;  and 
it  may  be  alleged  that  the  import  of  Christ's  declaration  is  that 
children  may  be  recognized  as  members  of  the  church.  That 
believei*s  as  members  of  the  church  are  entitled  to  claim  the  same 
privilege  for  their  childi'cn,  is  a  fact  under  both  the  Jewish  and 
Christian  dispensations.  This,  as  respects  the  visible  church, 
entitles  them  to  its  watchful  care,  prayers,  and  means  of  religious 
education  and  training ;  and  when  they  arrive  at  years  of  reason 
and  moral  responsibility,  it  is  their  duty  and  privilege  to  assume 
for  themselves  the  obligations  and  jDrivileges  of  believing  men 
and  women.  If  they  refuse,  and  live  in  disobedience  and  unbe- 
lief, they  forfeit  the  blessings  and  hopes  of  the  believing  and 
obedient ;  and  these  can  be  regained  only  by  repentance  toward 
God  and  faith  in  the  Lord  Jesus.  But  the  question  here  is 
respecting  those  who  die  in  infancy.  Does  not  their  recognition 
as  members  of  Christ's  church  on  earth  imply  that  they  will  be 
recognized  as  such  in  heaven  ?  It  is  on  Christ's  authority  that 
they  are  now  acknowledged  as  the  lambs  of  his  flock  — will  he 
not  own  them  as  such  when,  being  yet  little  children,  they  are 
in  his  providence  called  to  the  world  of  spirits  ?  Men  may  mis- 
take as  to  those  who  are  entitled  to  the  privileges  of  divine 
grace :  Clirist  cannot.  Will  he  exclude  from  the  company  of 
the  redeemed  those  to  whom  he  had  assigned  a  place  among  his 
people  here  ?  Called  away  by  death  before  they  had  reached 
a  condition  of  moral  agency,  will  they  not  be  transferred  from 
the  church  on  earth  to  the  church  in  heaven  ?  The  church  in 
heaven  is  only  the  highest  department  of  the  same  gracious  sys- 


ARE    INFANTS    SAVED?  67 

tern.  All  who,  in  truth  and  in  the  j  udgment  of  God,  are  mem- 
bers of  the  church  on  earth,  will  be  admitted  to  the  church  in 
heaven. 

As  to  the  relation  of  the  children  of  believers  to  the  visible 
church,  what  is  the  import  and  matter  of  fact?  That  relation 
in  itself  does  not  imply,  as  a  matter  of  certainty,  their  actual 
salvation.  Many  baptized  children,  and  even  the  children  of 
pious  parents,  live  and  die  impenitent  and  unbelieving.  In  how 
far  this  may  follow  from  the  want  of  faith  and  faithfulness  on 
the  part  of  the  parents,  I  undertake  not  to  decide.  As  respects 
those  who  die  in  infancy,  pious  parents  can  never  suppose  that 
their  salvation  is  the  reward  of  their  parents'  faith  and  holiness. 
They  are  therefore  saved  wholly  by  grace ;  and  by  the  same 
sovereign  grace  alone  can  their  children  be  saved.  But  if  their 
children  live  to  years  of  discretion  or  maturity,  to  them,  as  moral 
and  accountable  beings,  it  is  of  the  utmost  importance  to  have 
the  means  of  religious  knowledge  and  a  pious  education.  And 
by  pious  parents  it  must  be  regarded  as  a  precious  privilege  to 
have  the  means  of  training  up  their  children  for  God,  and  holi- 
ness and  heaven.  The  influence  of  the  church  and  the  gospel 
dispensation  is  designed  to  have  its  effect  specially,  in  forming 
men  to  wisdom  and  holiness  by  a  process  of  education  assigned 
by  God  and  made  effectual  by  his  blessing.  Of  its  saving  effect 
in  any  other  way  I  am  not  aware.  Human  beings  who  do  not 
live  here  to  become  moral  agents  are  under  a  different  dispensa- 
tion. 

6th.  The  consideration  of  the  benevolence  of  God  favours  the 
belief  that  children  dying  in  infancy  will  be  saved  and  be  heirs 


68  CHILDREN    IN    HEAVEN. 

of  heaven.  I  am  aware  that  vre  may  entertain  unwarranted  and 
presumptuous  expectations  from  the  Divine  benevolence.  Unbe- 
lieving and  even  profligate  sinners  often  do.  They  overlook  the 
fact  that  God  is  just,  and  holy,  and  true,  as  well  as  merciful.  All 
we  know  of  his  mercy  is  from  his  own  revelation,  which  asserts 
his  perfect  righteousness  no  less  strongly  and  clearly  than  his 
mercy.  He  is  always  represented  as  a  just  God,  even  when  he 
is  a  Saviour.  Divine  revelation  does  not  any  where  give  inti- 
mations of  mercy  to  fallen  man  unless  through  mediation  and 
atonement.  In  this  way  grace  and  mercy  abound.  "  God  so 
loved  the  world,  that  he  gave  his  only  begotten  Son,  that  whoso- 
ever believeth  on  him  may  not  perish,  but  have  everlasting  life." 
"  In  this  was  manifested  the  love  of  God,  that  he  gave  his  only 
begotten  Son,  that  we  might  live  through  him."  "  God  is  love." 
I  take  it  as  a  fact,  that  Divine  benevolence  does  not  in  any  case 
inflict  penal  evil  upon  any  intelligent  creature,  nor  withhold 
from  them  appropriate  happiness,  unless  where  the  penalty  has 
been  incurred  and  the  forfeiture  made  by  sin ; — in  that  case  Divine 
law  and  justice  must  be  vindicated.  In  the  case  of  infants,  the 
vindication  has  been  made,  and  through  Christ  they  may  be  saved. 
That  believers  may  and  will  be  saved  is  absolutely  certain.  In- 
fants cannot  believe  ;  l)ut  will  they  for  that  reason  perish  ?  May 
not — will  not  Divine  benevolence  impart  to  them  the  prepared 
salvation  which  they  need,  but  which  through  natural  incompe- 
tency they  cannot  seek  and  accept  ?  Under  the  moral  govern- 
ment of  God  it  is  a  recognized  fact,  that  responsibility  is  always 
proportional  to  the  opportunities  and  means  which  he  has  given 
to  men  to  know  and  do  his  will.     "  The  servant  who   knew  his 


ARE    INFANTS    SAVED?  69 

master's  Mill  auci  did  it  not,  shall  be  beaten  with  many  stripes ; 
but  he  who  knew  not  his  master's  will  and  committed  things 
worthy  of  stripes,  shall  be  beaten  with  few."  Absolute  and  in- 
vincible ignorance  of  duty  can  involve  no  responsibihty ; — as 
many  as  have  sinned  without  the  revealed  law  will  be  dealt  with 
accordingly  ;  and  they  who  sin  und^r  and  with  a  knowledge  of 
the  law  will  be  judged  by  the  law.  The  heathen  will  not  be 
condemned  for  not  believing  the  gospel  which  they  had  never 
heard,  and  of  which  they  had  no  knowledge.  No  more  will  be 
required  of  them,  nor  of  any,  than  a  faithful  improvement  of 
the  means  of  knowledge  and  obedience  which  they  had.  It  is 
their  unfaithfulness  to  what  they  knew,  or  might  and  ought  to 
have  known,  that  leaves  them  guilty  and  without  excuse.  Will 
infants  perish  because  of  their  non-acceptance  of  a  Saviour,  al- 
though their  natural  imbecility  renders  such  acceptance  an  abso- 
lute impossibility  ?  I  admit  and  believe  that  they  "  are  by  na- 
ture children  of  wrath ;"  but,  as  they  do  not  live  to  years  of 
moral  agency  to  resist  and  reject  either  natural  or  revealed  re- 
ligion, will  they  not  be  saved  by  grace  ?  Will  they  not  be  the 
objects  of  tlie  benevolence  and  mercy  of  Him  who  has  sworn 
that  he  has  no  pleasure  even  in  the  death  of  those  who  defy 
his  authority,  reject  his  grace,  and  die  in  their  sins?  God's 
vindictive  displeasui'c  is  exercised  against  wilful  sinners  only. 
Wiicre  there  is  no  crime,  he  delights  in  showing  favour  and 
conferring  happiness.  This  is  true  as  to  holy  angels  and  all 
other  upright  and  intelligent  creatures ;  and  even  on  fallen 
man  he  delights  to  bestow  happiness  where  his  justice  is  rec- 
ognized and    his    meny  souglit,  and  the  grace  which   reigns 


70  CHILDREN    IX    HEAVEN. 

through  righteousness  unto  eternal  life,  by  Jesus  Christ  out 
Lord,  does  not  will  that  one  of  these  little  ones  should 
perish. 

]My  remarks  on  this  very  tender  and  interesting  case  imply 
that  all  children  dying  in  infancy  are  heirs  of  salvation.  I 
know  of  nothing  in  the  teachings  of  the  Scriptures,  or  in  the 
circumstances  of  this  case,  which  requires  a  different  opinion. 
They  all  are  involved  in  the  same  ruin  by  the  operation  of  the 
same  causes.  "  In  Adam  all  die."  The  mediation  of  Christ 
has,  as  respects  the  law  and  government  of  God,  made  provision 
for  the  exercise  of  mercy  to  them,  in  common  with  all  the  race. 
"  By  the  righteousness  of  one  (Christ,  the  second  Adam)  the  fi-ee 
gift  came  upon  all  men  to  justification  of  life."  Their  salvation 
depends  entirely  on  the  pleasure  of  God.  They  cannot  have  any 
agency  in  the  case.  No  other  creature  can.  God  alone  has  the 
right  or  power  to  save.  If  he  wills  it,  it  cannot  fail  of  accomplish- 
ment. Their  case  and  condition  as  respects  themselves,  severally 
and  individually,  is  the  same,  be  they  the  offspring  of  Christians 
or  heathen.  God,  as  a  sovereign,  may  justly  make  a  difference ; 
but  there  is  no  evidence  that,  in  this  case,  he  will.  The  punish- 
ment of  wilful  rebels  and  unbelievers  is  indisputably  just.  The 
salvation  of  the  penitent  and  believing  is  certain  in  the  way 
which  God  has  assigned.  They  who  die  in  infancy  are  in  cir- 
cumstances different  from  both  ;  they  are  all  in  the  same  un- 
distinguished ruin,  and  may  all  be  the  objects  of  the  same  in- 
discriminating  and  abounding  grace.  Their  parentage,  in  so 
far  as  they  are  concerned,  makes  them  neither  better  nor 
worse. 


ARE    INFANTS     SAVED?  71 

Presbyterians  are  charged  with  entertaining  veiy  harsh  opinions 
on  this  subject,  and  with  pronouncing  a  sentence  of  perdition  at 
least  on  a  part  of  those  who  die  in  infancy.  I  can  truly  say 
that,  in  all  my  intercourse  with  ministers  and  intelligent  private 
Christians  of  our  denomination,  I  never  heard  an  avowal  of 
such  a  belief.  If  not  clear  in  affirming  the  salvation  of  all  such, 
they  left  them  at  the  disposal  of  Him  who  gave  them  existence, 
and  who  can  inflict  no  cruelty  or  injustice  on  any  of  his  crea- 
tures ;  and  who  as  moral  governor  of  the  world  can  do  only 
what  is  wise  and  right.  Our  Confession  of  Faith,  which  we 
recognize  as  a  faithful  and  scriptural  summary  of  Bible  doctrines, 
refers  but  once  explicitly  to  this  subject,  where  it  says — "  Elect 
infants,  dying  in  infancy,  are  regenerated  and  saved  by  Christ, 
through  the  Spirit  who  worketh  when  and  where  and  how  he 
pleaseth.  So  also  are  all  other  elect .  persons  who  are  incapable 
of  being  outwardly  called  by  the  ministry  of  the  word."  In 
accordance  with  Scripture,  and  with  the  very  nature  and  reason 
of  the  case,  we  believe  that  all  men  are  not  saved ;  and  that 
they  who  are  saved  are  saved  according  to  the  purpose  and  by 
the  grace  of  God ; — that  fallen  man  would  not  and  could  not 
devise  and  effect  his  own  salvation,  and  that  God  alone  can. 
This  every  truly  converted  and  saved  sinner  feels,  and  believes, 
and  confesses.  This  is  the  sum  and  substance  of  what  we  mean 
by  election.  Though  a  full  and  free  salvation  be  provided  and 
offered ;  yet  such  is  the  indifference,  pride,  and  wickedness  of 
man,  that  not  one  would  embrace  this  salvation  if  God  did  not 
enlighten,  dispose,  and  enable  them  to  accept  of  the  offered 
mercy.     He  must  be  ignorant  of  himself,  and  still  in  ruinous 


72  CHILDREN    IN    HEAVEN. 

delusion  and  error,  who  arrogates  to  himself  the  purpose,  wisdom, 
and  efficiency  by  which  he  is  saved.  By  grace  men  are  saved, 
through  fliith ;  and  that  not  of  themselves :  it  is  the  gift  of  God. 
The  disposition  and  moral  power  to  return  to  God  by  repentance 
and  faith  no  sinful  man  has,  until  the  Spirit  of  God  awakens 
him  to  see  his  danger,  and  believe  in  Christ  as  the  only  and 
all-sufficient  Saviour.  All  the  race,  without  exception,  are  lost, 
and  Avould  be  for  ever  lost,  unless  God  in  mercy  quickens  them 
from  tlieir  death  in  trespasses  and  sins.  The  phrase  "  elect  in- 
fants" does  not  necessarily  suppose  and  imply  that  some  are  lost. 
They  may  all  be  included  among  the  saved,  as  a  part  of  the 
ruined  race,  together  with  the  exceeding  great  multitude  whom 
God  will  raise  to  life,  and  holiness,  and  heaven.  And  no  doubt 
it  is  true  that,  "  It  is  not  the  will  of  your  Father  who  is  iu 
heaven,  that  one  of  these  little  ones  should  perish." 

Admitting  as  true  and  scriptural  the  doctrine  now  advanced, 
it  follows, 

1st.  That  the  redeemed  infants  and  little  children  will  consti- 
tute a  large  number.  What  proportion  that  number  may  bear, 
more  or  less,  to  the  number  of  adults  who  wall  be  saved,  is 
knowTi  to  God  only ;  and  all  is  wise  and  right.  The  Judge  of 
all  the  earth  ever  does  that  which  is  right — and  "  his  tender 
mercies  are  over  all  his  works."  The  past  liistory  of  our  race,  even 
of  those  who  enjoyed  a  divine  revelation,  presents,  indeed,  a  sad- 
dening array  of  facts.  But  we  remember  the  desponding  com- 
plaint of  Elias  in  the  case  of  Israel,  and  find  some  consolation. 
The  prophet  judged  the  apostasy  to  be  universal,  himself  excepted; 
but  what  saith  the  answer  of  God  unto  him  ?  "  I  have  reserved 


ARE    INFANTS    SAVED?  73 

to  myself  seven  thousand  men  who  have  not  bowed  the  knee 
unto  the  image  of  Baal !"  Even  so  then  at  this  present  time 
also  there  is  a  remnant  according  to  the  election  of  grace.  If 
theii,  no  doubt  at  all  other  times  there  have  been  many  partakers 
of  divine  grace  and  mercy  known  to  God,  though  diso\\Tied  by 
the  imperfect  knowledge  and  unkind  judgment  of  man.  Besides, 
Ave  anticipate  millennial  times  of  glory  for  the  church,  when 
Christ, — not  by  a  personal  reign  on  earth,  but  in  the  power  of 
his  Spirit, — shall  subdue  the  nations  to  the  obedience  of  faith, 
and  send  from  all  kindreds  and  people  very  many  to  augment 
"  the  assembly  and  church  of  the  first-born  in  heaven."  We 
are  sad  in  thinking  of  the  comparatively  few  accessions  to  tlie 
world  of  glory  from  the  generations  that  are  gone ;  but  have 
hope  and  consolation  in  the  prospect  of  the  exceeding  great 
multitude  which  will  throng  heaven  when  all  ends  of  the  earth 
shall  hear  of  and  accept  the  salvation  of  God.  To  this  joy  im- 
mense interest  is  given,  by  the  consideration  of  the  myriads 
of  infant  spirits  which  from  all  countries  and  generations 
have  entered  on  the  light,  and  love,  and  joy  of  a  glorious  immor- 
tality. 

2d.  This  doctrine  of  the  salvation  of  all  who  die  in  infancy 
jircsents  no  reason  against  the  baptism  and  religious  education 
of  children. 

What  may  be  the  wise  and  sovereign  pleasure  of  God  as  to 
tlie  disposal  of  their  lives  is  known  to  him  alone.  Parents  can- 
not foresee  whether  they  will  die  early,  or  live  for  many  years. 
In  either  result  the  way  of  duty  and  of  privilege  is  one  and  the 
same.     If  it  should  be  the  will  of  God  that  their  children  die 

10 


74  CHILDREN    IN    HEAVEN. 

in  infancy  or  in  chiklliood,  in  tlie  revelation  of  Divine  mercy 
through  Christ,  pious  parents  will  find  the  best  preparation  for 
acquiescence  in  the  will  of  God,  and  for  enjoying  the  most  avail- 
able consolations.  This  is  the  only  hope  for  themselves  or  for 
their  children.  To  commit  them  in  believing  prayer  to  his  wise 
and  merciful  disposal  is  privilege  and  duty  :  and  as  he  has  insti- 
tuted the  ordinance  of  baptism  as  emblematical  and  significant 
of  the  needful  salvation,  the  use  and  observance  of  it  will  be 
considered  a  precious  privilege.  Parents  thus  recognize  the  ne- 
cessity of  salvation,  and  make  express  reference  to  the  manner  in 
which  it  is  obtained,  while  at  the  same  time  they  manifest  their 
humble  desire  and  hope  that  their  children  may  be  thus  saved, 
to  the  praise  of  the  glory  of  God's  grace.  With  such  a  hope, 
the  dedication  of  their  children  to  God  in  baptism  is  a  reason- 
able service,  an  act  of  faith,  and  a  means  of  peaceful  trust  and 
intelligent  consolation. 

If  it  should  be  the  good  pleasure  of  God  to  prolong  the  lives 
of  their  children  to  years  of  accountability  and  of  participation 
in  the  duties  of  life,  that  early  consecration  of  them  is  a  matter 
of  special  privilege  and  of  sacred  obligation.  And  all  that  is 
fairly  implied  in  their  baptism  is  no  less  privilege  and  duty.  It 
is  a  privilege  and  duty  to  commend  them  to  the  grace  of  God 
in  confiding,  fervent  prayer;  to  secure  for  them  in  God's  assigned 
way  the  benefit  of  divine  ordinances ;  and  to  employ  their  own 
prayers  and  faithful  efforts  to  make  them  wise,  holy  and  happy. 
As  said  before,  "  The  church  or  gospel  dispensation  is  designed 
and  adapted  to  have  its  special  effect  in  forming  men  to  wisdom 
and  holiness,  by  a  process  of  education  aissigned  by  God  and  made 


ARE     tNFANTS    SAVED?  75 

effectual  by  his  blessing ;"  and  by  pious  parents  it  must  be  re- 
garded as  a  precious  privilege  to  have  divinely-appointed  means 
of  training  up  their  children  for  God,  and  holiness,  and  heaven. 
In  the  faithful  use  of  those  means  there  is  great  and  special  rea- 
son to  hope  for  that  all-important  result.  In  the  neglect  of 
those  means  there  is  no  warrant  to  hope.  So  God  teaches : — 
"Train  up  a  child  in  the  way  he  should  go,  and  when  he  is  old 
he  will  not  depart  from  it,"  The  contrary  is  no  less  true,  that 
"a  child  left  to  himself"  will  probably  become  the  grief  and 
shame  of  his  parents,  and  do  little  good,  if  not  much  harm,  to 
himself  and  to  the  world.  This  the  nature  of  the  case  forebodes, 
and  facts  generally  furnish  the  sad  illustration  and  proof.  Intel- 
ligent and  moral  beings,  that  they  may  act  virtuously,  must  have 
a  knowledge  of  their  duty  and  appropriate  motives  to  fulfil  it. 
These  they  can  have  only  by  religious  instruction  and  training. 
In  the  want  of  these  there  will  be  ignorance,  folly  and  sin. 

3d.  Baptism,  though  a  duty  and  a  privilege,  where  the  Divine 
appointment  is  known,  is  not  essential  to  salvation;  nor  does  it, 
in  itself,  insure  salvation. 

Abraham  was  in  a  state  of  j  ustification  and  acceptance  with 
God  before  he  was  circumcised.  Simon,  the  sorcerer,  though 
baptized,  was  in  the  "  gall  of  bitterness  and  bond  of  iniquity  ;" 
and  so  it  is  with  all  ungodly  and  unbelieving  men.  Baj^tism  is 
not,  nor  does  it  necessarily,  or  even  by  Divine  appointment,  in- 
volve in  it  spiritual  regeneration.  It  would  then  be  essentially 
necessary ;  because,  "  except  a  man  be  born  again,  or  spiritually 
regenerated,  he  cannot  see  the  kingdom  of  God."  If  it  were 
regeneration,  it  would  always  be  followed  by  evidences  of  spirit- 


76  CHILDREN    IN    HEAVEN. 

ual  life,  which  is  very  far  from  being  matter  of  fact.  Many 
baptized  persons  are  infidels,  and  impious  and  profligate  men. 
If  it  were  real  regeneration,  it  would  be  imperishable.  The 
spiritual  life  which  God  communicates  he  will  never  permit  to 
die :  having  begun  a  good  work  he  will  perfect  it  until  the  day 
of  Jesus  Christ.  Baptism  is  merely  emblematical  of  that  gracious 
change  which  is  effected  by  the  Holy  Spirit  in  the  application  of 
the  redemption  purchased  by  Christ.  This  gracious  change  may 
be,  and  no  doubt  is  often  effected  without  the  external  ordinance. 
The  salvation  of  those  who  die  in  infancy  cannot  depend  on 
the  faithfulness  or  unfaithfulness  of  their  parents ;  it  depends 
wholly  on  the  gracious  will  and  sovereign  pleasure  of  God. 
Their  being  baptized  or  not,  is  a  matter  in  which  they  can  have 
no  choice  nor  agency,  and  consequently  neither  praise  nor  blame. 
In  this  case,  parents  have  a  responsibility  which  infants  cannot 
have.  It  is  one  of  those  external  means  which  pertain  to  the 
visible  church,  ordained  by  God  to  encourage  the  faith  of  pious 
parents  in  hoping  for  the  salvation  of  their  children,  and  to  be 
the  means  of  expressing  their  trust  in  the  mercy  of  God,  and 
recognizing  their  obligations  to  bring  them  up  in  the  nurture  an  i 
admonition  of  the  Lord,  if  life  be  prolonged. 

4tli.  The  fact  that  so  great  a  number  of  the  human  race  die 
in  infancy  or  early  cliildhood,  is  one  of  the  dispensations  of 
Providence  which  is  involved  in  no  little  obscurity.  All  the  rea- 
sons of  it  we  pretend  not  to  explain  or  assign.  That  it  is  proof 
of  tlieir  connate  guilt  and  depravity  the  Scriptures  assert.  But 
there  are  questions  which  the  case  seems  to  suggest,  which,  per- 
haps, it  may  not  be  presumptuous  in  us  to  ask  and  humbly  seek 


A  Tt  E     I X  F  A  X  T  S     S  A  V  E  D  ?  77 

for  some  soliitiou.  As  they  live  not  to  years  of  moial  agency, 
nor  to  act  a  part  in  the  scenes  of  life,  why  are  they  born  or 
bronght  into  life  ?  It  is  manifest  that  this  was  indispensable  to 
their  being  of  the  human  race.  They  make  a  part  of  that  num- 
ber of  human  beings  which  God  purposed  to  create.  Had  they 
not  been  thus  born,  they  would  not  have  been  in  fact  of  that 
particular  order  of  creatures.  Their  non-existence  would  have 
left  the  predestined  number  incomplete,  and  if  called  into  life  in 
any  other  way  they  had  not  been  of  the  race  of  man.  That 
their  continuance  on  earth  is  so  short,  is  according  to  the  Divine 
purpose  and  pleasure.  But  may  He  not,  in  his  sovereign  good 
pleasure,  design  to  exempt  them  from  the  cares,  dangers,  and  ills 
of  the  present  world,  and  favour  them  with  an  early  entrance  on 
an  immortal  existence  to  be  the  heirs  of  an  interminable  but  pro- 
gressive knowledge  and  happiness?  The  life  bestowed  and 
begun  he  would  not  annihilate,  nor  w-ould  he  perjDctuate  in  end- 
less woe.  "  It  is  not  his  will  that  they  should  perish."  They 
belong  to  "  the  kingdom  of  heaven."  They  constitute  a  part  of 
"the  travail  of  the  Redeemer's  soul" — "the  exceeding  great 
multitude  of  his  redeemed  which  no  man  can  number."  In 
order  to  their  being  of  the  human  race  they  must  derive  their 
existence  in  the  ordinary  way.  That  they  may  be  partakers  with 
Adam  in  his  fall,  they  must  be  his  natural  descendants.  If  not 
the  children  of  wrath  they  could  not  be  the  objects  of  mercy. 
If  not  of  the  human  race  they  could  not  partake  in  the  redemp- 
tion through  Christ.  He  came  to  save  men  only  ; — "  He  took 
not  upon  him  the  nature  of  angels,  but  the  seed  of  Abraham." 
Those  who  die  in  infancy  are  a  numerous  portion  of  the  genera- 


78  CHILDREN    IN    HEAVEN. 

tions  of  men.  As  to  all  the  rest  of  men,  they  are  fallen  and 
perishing.  They  need  salvation  and  may  be  the  trophies  of  a 
Redeemer's  gracious  power,  and  "  the  travail  of  his  soul."  For 
such  purposes  of  wisdom  and  sovereign  benevolence,  and  such 
manifestations  of  the  power  and  grace  of  Christ,  may  they  not 
well  exist?  And  if  these  be  some  of  the  facts  and  reasons,  do  they 
not  shed  some  light  upon  those  obscure  dispensations  of  the  all- 
wise  and  righteous  God  ?  AVhat  appears  to  us  a  premature  de- 
parture from  life,  in  the  case  of  infants,  is  not  more  unsearchable 
and  strange  than  many  other  cases,  in  which  God's  way  is  in  the 
sea  and  his  footsteps  in  the  deep  waters.  How  many  are  cut  off 
in  the  morning  of  life  and  in  all  the  vigour  and  hopes  of  youth ! 
— how  many  are  wisely,  yet  to  us  mysteriously,  called  away  from 
places  of  usefulness,  and  from  promises  and  prospects  of  accom- 
plishing great  good  ! — "  What  we  know  not  now  we  will  know 
hereafter."  In  the  administration  of  the  world  by  God  there  is 
no  error.  "  He  is  wise  in  counsel  as  well  as  mighty  in  working." 
Nothing  comes  too  soon — nothing  occurs  too  late.  He  who 
notices  the  fall  of  a  sparrow,  orders  well  the  issues  of  man's  life ; 
— by  him  the  days  of  our  life  are  numbered  no  less  than  the 
hairs  of  our  head. 


^ 


LONGFELLOW. 

There  is  a  Reaper  whose  name  is  Death, 

And  with  Kis  sickle  keen, 
He  reaps  the  bearded  grain  at  a  breath, 

And  the  flowers  that  grow  between. 

"  Shall  I  have  naught  that  is  fair  ?"  said  he, 
"Have  naught  but  the  bearded  grain? 
Though  the  breath  of  these  flowers  is  sweet  to  me, 
I  will  give  them  all  back  again." 

He  gazed  at  the  flowers  with  tearful  eyes; 

He  kissed  their  drooping  leaves ; 
It  was  for  the  Lord  of  paradise 

He  bound  them  in  his  sheaves. 

"  My  Lord  hath  need  of  these  flowerets  gay," 

The  reaper  said,  and  smiled ; 
"  Dear  tokens  of  the  earth  are  they, 

Where  he  was  once  a  child. 

"  They  shall  all  bloom  in  fields  of  light. 

Transplanted  by  my  care, 
79 


80  CHILDREN     IN     HEAVEN. 

And  saints  upon  their  garments  white, 
These  sacred  blossoms  wear." 

And  the  mother  gave  in  tears  and  pain 
The  flowers  she  most  did  love; 

She  knew  she  should  find  them  all  again 
In  the  fields  of  light  above. 

Oh,  not  in  cruelty,  not  in  wrath, 

The  reaper  came  that  day; 
'Twas  an  angel  visited  the  green  earth, 

And  took  the  flowers  away! 


^ur   Wiiih  Sister. 


ADA. 

She  came  and  went. 
This  life  to  her  was  as  a  passing  dream, 
So  short,  so  fleeting.     And  yet  she  gained 

A  place  within  our  hearts. 
As  most  we  love  those  tender  flowers 
Which  bloom  but  for  a  day, 
So  loved  we  her,  and  mourned  when  she  departed. 

But  wherefore  should  we  mourn? 
Oh  went  she  not    from  a  dark  world 
Of  sorrow,  pain,  and  tears, 
To  a  more  blessed  home,  a  place 
Of  holiness,  of  happiness,  and  peace? 

Then  may  we  dry  our  tears; 
For  now  more  blest,  and  happier  far, 

Than  any  here  below, 
She  sings  with  e'en  her  infant  voice 
Sweet  praises  to  her  Saviour,  who  declared. 
That  of  such  babes,  heaven's  kingdom  is  composed. 

11  81 


MRS.  MARY  S.  B.  DANA. 

I  SAW  the  young  mother  in  tenderness  bend 

O'er  the  coach  of  her  shi inhering  boy, 
And  she  kissed  the  soft  lips  as  they  murmured  her  name, 

While  the  dreamer  lay  smiling  in  joy. 
O  sweet  as  the  rose-bud  encircled  with  dew, 

When  its  fragrance  is  flung  on  the  air, 
So  fresh  and  so  bright  to  that  mother  he  seemed. 

As  he  lay  in  his  innocence  there. 
But  I  saw  when  she  gazed  on  the  same  lovely  form, 

Pale  as  marble,  and  silent,  and  cold, 
But  paler  and  colder  her  beautiful  boy, 

And  the  tale  of  her  sorrow  was  told  ! 
But  the  Healer  was  there  who  had  stricken  her  heart. 

And  taken  her  treasure  away ; 
To  allure  her  to  heaven  he  has  placed  it  on  high. 

And  the  mourner  will  sweetly  obey : 
There  had  whispered  a  voice — 'twas  the  voice  of  her  God, 

"  I  love  thee — I  love  thee — pass  under  the  rod!" 

82 


8btr   Hit    Siber. 

MISS  N.  A.  W.  PRIEST. 

OvEE  the  river  they  beckon  to  me — 

Loved  ones  who've  crossed  to  the  further  side; 
The  gleam  of  their  snowy  robes  I  see, 

But  their  voices  are  drowned  in  the  rushing  tide 
There's  one  with  ringlets  of  sunny  gold, 

And  eyes  the  reflection  of  heaven's  own  blue  j 
He  crossed  in  the  twilight,  gray  and  cold, 

And  the  pale  mist  liid  him  from  mortal  view. 
We  saw  not  the  angels  who  met  him  there; 

The  gates  of  the  city  we  could  not  see  j 
Over  the  river,  over  the  river, 

INIy  brother  stands  waiting  to  welcome  me! 

Over  the  river,  the  boatman  pale 

Carried  another — the  household  pet: 
Her  brown  curls  waved  in  the  gentle  gale — 

Darling  Minnie !  I  see  her  yet. 
She  crossed  on  her  bosom  her  dimpled  hands, 

And  fearlessly  entered  the  phantom  bark ; 
We  watched  it  glide  from  the  silver  sands. 

And  all  our  sunshine  grew  strangely  dark. 

83 


84  CHILDEEN    IN    HEA  TEN. 

We  know  slie  is  safe  on  the  further  side 
Where  all  the  ransomed  and  angels  be; 

Over  the  river,  the  mystic  river, 

My  childhood's  idol  is  waiting  for  me. 

For  none  return  from  those  quiet  shores, 

Who  cross  with  the  boatman  cold  and  pale ; 
We  hear  the  dip  of  the  golden  oars, 

And  catch  the  gleam  of  the  snowy  sail, — 
And  lo !  they  have  passed  from  our  yearning  heart ; 

They  cross  the  stream,  and  are  gone  for  aye ; 
We  may  not  sunder  the  veil  apart. 

That  hides  from  our  vision  the  gates  of  day. 
We  only  loiow  that  their  barks  no  more 

May  sail  with  us  o'er  life's  stormy  sea: 
Yet  somewhere,  I  know,  on  the  nnseen  shore, 

They  watch,  and  beckon,  and  Avait  for  me. 

And  I  sit  and  think,  when  the  sunset's  gold, 

Is  flushing  river,  and  hill,  and  shore, 
I  shall  one  day  stand  by  the  water  cold. 

And  list  for  the  sound  of  the  boatman's  oar ; 
I  shall  watch  for  a  gleam  of  the  flapping  sail ; 

I  shall  hear  the  boat  as  it  gains  the  strand; 
I  shall  pass  from  sight,  with  the  boatman  pale. 

To  the  better  shore  of  the  spirit  land ; 
I  shall  know  the  loved  who  have  gone  before, — 

And  joyfully  sweet  will  the  meeting  be, 
When  over  the  river,  the  peaceful  river, 

The  angel  of  Death  shall  carry  me. 


MRS.  L.  H.  SIGOURNEY, 

"What  shall  I  render  Thee!  Father  Supreme, 
For  thy  rich  gifts,  and  tJiis  the  best  of  all  ?" 
Said  a  young  mother,  as  she  fondly  watched 
Her  sleeping  babe. 

There  was  an  answering  voice 
That  night  in  dreams. 

"  Thou  hast  a  little  bud 
Wrapt  in  thy  breast,  and  fed  with  dews 
Of  love ;  give  me  that  bud,  'twill  be 
A  flower  in  heaven." 

But  there  was  silence,  yea,  a  hush  so  deep, 
Breathless  and  terror-stricken. 

That  the  lip 
Blanched  in  its  trance — 

"Thou  hast  a  little  harp 
How  sweetly  would  it  swell  the 
Angels'  songs!     Give  me  that  harp." 
There  burst  a  shuddering  sob 
As  if  the  bosom,  by  some  hidden  sword, 
Was  cleft  in  twain. 

85 


86  CHILDREN    IN    HEAVEN. 

Morn  came,  a  blight  had  found 
The  crimson  velvet  of  the  unfolding  bud  j 
The  harp-string  rang  a  thrilling  strain, 
And  broke. 

And  that  young  mother  lay  upon 
The  earth  in  childless  agony. 

Again  the  voice 
That  stirred  her  vision — 

*'  He  who  asked  of  thee 
Loveth  a  cheerful  giver." 

So  she  raised 
Her  gushing  eye,  and  ere  the  tear-drop 
Dried  upon  its  fringes,  smiled — 

Doubt  not  that  smile, 
Like  Abraham's  faith, 

"  Was  counted  righteousness." 


flit   Mcdm^'^hce. 

HORATiUS  BONAR,  D.D, 

Where  the  faded  flower  shall  freshen, — 

Freshen  never  more  to  fade ; 
Where  the  shaded  sky  shall  brighten, — 

Brighten  never  more  to  shade : 
Where  the  sun-blaze  never  scorches; 

Where  the  star-beams  cease  to  chill; 
Where  no  tempest  stirs  the  echoes 

Of  the  wood,  or  wave,  or  hill : 
Where  the  morn  shall  wake  in  gladness, 

And  the  moon  the  joy  prolong. 
Where  the  daylight  dies  in  fragrance, 

'Mid  the  burst  of  holy  song : 

Brother,  we  shall  meet  and  rest 
'Mid  the  holy  and  the  blest! 

Where  no  shadow  shall  bewilder. 
Where  life's  vain  parade  is  o'er. 

Where  the  sleep  of  sin  is  broken, 
And  the  dreamer  dreams  tio  more: 

Where  the  bond  is  never  severed ; — 

Partings,  clasplngs,  sob  and  moan, 
87 


88'  CHILDREN     IN    HEAVEN. 

Midnight  waking,  t^yilig•llt  weeping, 

Heavy  noontide,  all  are  done: 
Where  the  child  has  found  its  mother, 

Where  the  mothci   finds  the  child, 
AVhere  dear  families  are  gathered. 
That  were  scattered  on  the  Avild : 

Brother,  we  shall  meet  and  rest 
'Mid  the  holy  and  the  blest! 

Where  the  hidden  wound  is  healed. 

Where  the  blighted  light  re-blooms, 
Where  the  smitten  heart  the  freshness 

Of  its  buoyant  youth  resumes : 
Where  the  love  that  here  we  lavish 

On  the  withering  leaves  of  time. 
Shall  have  fadeless  flowers  to  fix  on 

In  an  ever  spring-bright  clime : 
Where  we  find  the  joy  of  loving, 

As  we  never  loved  before, — 
Loving  on  unchilled,  unhindered, 

Lovmg  once  and  evermore: 

Brother,  we  shall  meet  and  rest, 
'Mid  the  holy  and  the  blest! 

Where  a  blasted  Avorld  shall  brisrhten 

Underneath  a  bluer  sphere. 
And  a  softer,  gentler  sunshine 

Shed  its  healing  splendo)    here: 


THE     MEETING-PLACE. 

Where  earth's  barren  vales  shall  blossom, 

Putting;  on  their  robe  of  green, 
And  a  purer,  fairer  Eden 

Be  where  only  wastes  have  been  : 
Where  a  king  in  kingly  glory. 

Such  as  earth  has  never  known, 
Shall  assume  the  righteous  sceptre. 
Claim  and  wear  the  holy  crown  : 

Brother,  we  shall  meet  and  rest, 
'Mid  the  holy  and  the  blest. 

12 


Sl^e    linking    of   ^I^ilbreit. 

"Who  shall  sing,  if  not  the  children? 

Did  not  Jesus  die  for  them? 
May  they  not,  with  other  jewels, 

Sparkle  in  his  diadem  ? 
Why  to  them  were  voices  given — 

Bird-like  voices,  sweet  and  clear? 
Why,  unless  the  song  of  heaven 

They  begin  to  practise  here  ? 

There's  a  choir  of  infant  songsters, 

White-robed,  round  the  Saviour's  throne ; 
Angels  to  their  music  listen. 

Oh!  'tis  sweeter  than  their  own! 
Faith  can  hear  the  rapturous  choral, 

When  her  ear  is  upward  turned ; 
Is  not  this  the  same,  perfected, 

Which  upon  the  earth  they  learned? 

Jesus,  when  on  earth  sojourning, 
Loved  them  with  a  wondrous  love ; 

90 


THE    SINGING    OF    CHILDREN.  91 

And  will  he  to  heaven  returning, 

Faithless  to  his  blessing  prove? 
Oh  !  they  cannot  sing  too  early ; 

Fathers,  stand  not  in  their  way! 
Birds  sing  while  the  day  is  breaking — 

Tell  me,  then,  why  should  not  they? 


Wilt    fittle    Sleeper. 

RICHARD  C.  TRENCH. 

No  mother's  eye  beside  thee  wakes  to-night, 

No  taper  burns  beside  thy  lonely  bed, 
Darkling  thou  liest,  hidden  out  of  sight. 

And  none  are  near  thee  but  the  silent  dead. 

How  cheerless  glows  this  hearth,  yet  glows  in  vain, 

For  we  uncheered  beside  it  sit  alone, 
And  listen  to  the  wild  and  beating  rain 

In  angry  gusts  against  our  casement  blown. 

And  though  we  nothing  speak,  yet  well  I  know 

That  both  our  hearts  are  there,  where  thou  dost  keep 

Within  thy  narrow  chamber  far  below, 

For  the  first  time  unwatched,  thy  lonely  sleep. 

Oh  no !  not  thou ! — and  we  our  faith  deny. 

This  thought  allowing :  thou,  removed  from  harms, 

In  Abraham's  bosom  dost  securely  lie. 

Oh !  not  in  Abraham's,  in  a  Saviour's  arms — 

In  that  dear  Lord's,  who  in  thy  worst  distress. 
Thy  bitterest  anguish,  gave  thee,  dearest  child, 

92 


TUE     LITTLE     SLEIPER.  93 

Still  to  abide  in  perfect  gentleness, 

And  like  an  angel  to  be  meek  and  mild. 

Sweet  corn  of  wheat,  committed  to  the  ground 
To  die,  and  live,  and  bear  more  precious  ear, 

While  in  the  heart  of  earth  the  Saviour  found 
His  place  of  rest,  for  thee  we  will  not  fear. 

Sleep  softly,  till  that  blessed  rain  and  dew, 

Down  lighting  upon  earth  such  change  shall  bring 

That  all  its  fields  of  death  shall  laugh  anew — 
Yea,  with  a  living  harvest  laugh  and  sing. 


®n  t\t   &t(ti\i   of  n   Bon. 

PAUL  GERHARDT. 

Thotj'rt  mine,  yes,  still  thou  art  mine  own! 

Who  tells  me  thou  art  not? 
But  yet  thou  art  not  mine  alone, 

I  own  that  He  who  crossed 
My  hopes  hath  greatest  right  in  thee ; 
Yea,  though  He  ask  and  take  from  me 
Thee,  O  my  son,  my  heart's  delight, 
My  wish,  my  thought,  by  day  and  night. 

Ah  might  I  wish,  ah  might  I  choose, 
Then  thou,  my  star,  should'st  live. 

And  gladly  for  thy  sake  I'd  lose 
All  else  that  life  can  give. 

Oh  fain  I'd  say :  Abide  with  me. 

The  sunshine  of  my  house  to  be, 

No  other  joy  but  this  I  crave, — 

To  love  thee,  darling,  to  my  grave ! 

Tlius  salth  my  heart,  and  means  it  well, 

God  meanetb  better  still; 
u 


ON    TUE    DEATH    OF    A    SON.  95 

My  love  is  more  than  words  can  tell, 

His  love  is  greater  still ; 
I  am  a  father,  He  the  Head 
And  Crown  of  fathers,  whence  is  shed 
The  life  and  love  from  which  have  sprung 
All  blessed  ties  in  old  and  young. 

I  long  for  thee,  my  son,  my  own! 

And  He  who  once  hath  given. 
Will  have  thee  now  beside  His  throne. 

To  live  with  him  in  Heaven. 
I  cry,  alas  !  my  light,  my  child  ! 
But  God  hath  welcome  on  him  smiled, 
And  said,  "  3Iy  child,  I  keep  thee  near. 
For  there  is  naught  but  gladness  here." 

Oh  blessed  word,  oh  deep  decree. 

More  holy  than  we  think ! 
With  God  no  grief  or  woe  can  be, 

No  bitter  cup  to  drink, 
No  sickening  hopes,  no  want  or  care, 
No  hurt  can  ever  reach  him  there. 
Yes,  in  that  Father's  sheltered  home 
I  know  that  sorrow  cannot  come. 

We  pass  our  nights  in  wakeful  thought 

For  our  dear  children's  sake ; 
All  day  our  anxious  toil  hath  sought 

How  best  for  them  to  make 


06  CHILDREN     IN     HEAVEN. 

A  future  safe  from  care  or  need, 
Yet  seldom  do  our  schemes  succeed ; 
How  seldom  docs  their  future  prove 
What  we  had  planned  for  those  v/e  love! 

How  many  a  child  of  promise  fair 

Ere  now  hath  gone  astray, 
By  ill  example  taught  to  dare 

Forsake  Christ's  holy  way. 
Oh  fearful  the  reward  is  then, 
The  wrath  of  God,  the  scorn  of  men ! 
The  bitterest  tears  that  e'er  are  shed 
Are  his  who  mourns  a  child  misled. 

But  now  1  need  not  fear  for  thee, 

Where  thou  art,  all  is  well ; 
For  where  thy  Father's  face  doth  see, 

With  Jesus  thou  dost  dwell ! 
Yes,  cloudless  joys  around  him  shine, 
His  heart  shall  never  ache  like  mine ; 
He  sees  the  radiant  armies  glow 
That  keep  and  guide  us  here  below. 

He  hears  their  sinsjlng  evermore, 

His  little  voice  too  sings. 
He  drinks  of  wisdom's  deepest  lore, 

He  speaks  of  secret  things 
That  we  can  never  see  or  know, 
Howe'er  Ave  seek  or  strive  below, 


ON    THE    DEATH    OF    A    SON.  97 

While  yet  amid  the  mists  we  stand 
That  veil  this  dark  and  tearful  land. 

Oh  that  I  could  but  watch  afar, 

And  hearken  but  a  while 
To  that  sweet  song  that  hath  no  jar, 

And  see  his  heavenly  smile, 
As  he  doth  praise  the  holy  God, 
Who  made  him  pure  for  that  abode! 
In  tears  of  joy  full  well  I  know 
This  burdened  heart  would  overflow. 

And  I  should  say :  Stay  here,  my  son. 

My  wild  laments  are  o'er, 
Oh  well  for  thee  that  thou  hast  won, 

I  call  thee  back  no  more ; 
But  come,  thou  fiery    chariot,  come, 
And  bear  me  swiftly  to  that  home, 
Where  he  with  many  a  loved  one  dwells, 
And  evermore  of  gladness  tells ! 

Then  be  it  as  my  Father  wills, 

I  will  not  weep  for  thee; 
Thou  livest,  joy  thy  spirit  fills. 

Pure  sunshine  thou  dost  see. 
The  sunshine  of  eternal  restj 
Abide,  my  child,  where  thou  art  blest; 
I  with  my  friends  will  onward  fare, 
And,  when  God  will,  shall  find  me  there. 

13 


^8    P«J>- 

JOHN  PIERPONT, 

I  CANNOT  make  him  dead! 

His  fair  sunshiny  head 
Is  ever  bounding  round  my  study  chair ; 

Yet,  when  my  eyes,  now  dim 

With  tears,  I  turn  to  him, 
The  vision  vanishes — he  is  not  there! 

I  walk  my  parlour  floor, 

And,  through  the  open  door, 
I  hear  a  foot-fall  on  the  chamber-stair; 

I'm  stepping  tow;ard  the  hall, 

To  give  the  boy  a  call. 
And  then  bethink  me  that — he  is  not  there  I 

I  tread  the  crowded  street; 

A  satcheled  lad  I  meet. 
With  the  same  beaming  eyes  and  coloured  hail*; 

And  as  he's  running  by. 

Follow  him  with  my  eye, 
Si^ircely  believing  that — he  is  not  there ! 

98 


MY    CHILD.  99 

I  know  his  face  is  hid 

Under  the  coffin-lid: 
Closed  are  his  eyes,  cold  is  his  forehead  fairj 

My  hand  that  marble  felt ; 

O'er  it  in  prayer  I  knelt ; 
Yet  my  heart  whispers  that — he  is  not  there! 

I  cannot  make  him  dead! 

When  passing  by  the  bed 
So  long  watched  over  with  parental  care, 

My  spirit  and  my  eye 

Seek  it  inquiringly, 
Before  the  thought  comes  that — he  is  not  there! 

When  at  the  cool  gray  break 

Of  day,  from  sleep  I  wake, 
With  my  first  breathing  of  the  morning  air, 

My  soul  goes  up  with  joy, 

To  Him  who  gave  my  boy. 
Then  comes  the  sad  thought  that — he  is  not  there! 

When  at  the  day's  calm  close, 

Before  we  seek  repose, 
I'm  with  his  mother  offering  up  our  prayer, 

Or  evening  anthems  tuning. 

In  spirit  I'm  communing 
With  our  boy's  spirit,  though — he  is  not  there! 

Not  there! — Where,  then,  is  he? 
The  form  I  used  to  see 


100  CHILDKEN    IN    HEAVEN. 

Was  but  the  raiment  that  he  used  to  wear! 

The  grave,  that  now  doth  press 

Upon  that  cast-off  dress, 
Is  but  his  wardrobe  locked:  he  is  not  there! 

He  lives! — in  all  the  past 

He  lives;  nor,  to  the  last, 
Of  seeing  him  again  will  I  despair. 

In  dreams  I  see  him  now, 

And,  on  his  angel-brow, 
I  see  it  written :  "  Thou  shalt  see  me  there !" 

Yes,  we  all  live  to  God! 

Father,  thy  chastening  rod 
So  help  us,  thine  afflicted  ones,  to  bear, 

That  in  the  spirit-land, 

Meeting  at  thy  right  hand, 
'Twill  be  our  heaven  to  find  that — Thou  art  there! 


Mxt  Snfants  teledeir? 

ASHBEL  G.  FAIRCHILD,  D.D.* 

It  is  objected,  that  Election  involves  the  doctrine  of  "  infant 
damnation." 

On  the  contrary  it  furnishes  the  only  ground  on  which  the 
salvation  of  infants  can  be  consistently  maintained ;  for  if  those 
who  die  in  infancy  are  chosen  to  eternal  life,  then  we  have  the 
strongest  possible  assurance  of  their  final  happiness.  On  the 
other  hand,  if,  as  some  Anti-Calvinists  argue,  infants  are  not 
elect  to  salvation,  they  cannot  be  of  that  happy  number  which 
Christ  will  finally  gather  to  his  heavenly  kingdom.  Matt.  xxiv. 
31.  These  brethren,  however,  in  their  lively  concern  for  our 
orthodoxy,  complain  of  a  passage  in  our  Confession,  ch.  10,  sec 
3,  which  says,  "  Elect  infants  dying  in  infancy  are  regenerated 
and  saved  by  Christ,  through  the  Spirit."  From  this  they  argue 
"  that  if  some  who  die  in  infancy  are  elect,  others  who  die  in 
infancy  are  reprobate."  But  this  is  a  gross  error,  founded  upon 
a  misapprehension  of  the  scriptural  application  of  the  term 
"  elect."  This  term,  when  used  with  reference  to  salvation,  does 
not  signify  chosen  out  of  a  particular  age  or  class,  but  out  of 

*  From  "  The  Great  Supper."     Published  by  the  Presbyterian  Board  of  Publica- 
tion. 

101 


102  CHILDREN    IN    HEAVEN. 

the  general  mass  of  mankind.  Thus,  when  John,  addressing  the 
"elect  lady,"  speaks  of  her  '■^  elect  sister"  (2  John  13,)  we  are 
not  to  conclude  with  our  good  brethren,  that  she  must  have  had 
also  a  reprobate  sister,  but  that  the  sister  was  one  of  those  who 
were  elect  out  of  the  fallen  family  of  Adam.  Also,  when  the 
phrase  "  elect  children  of  God"  occurs  in  sermons  or  writings, 
we  do  not  understand  it  as  implying  that  there  are  also  reprobate 
children  of  God.  Accordingly,  our  Confession  of  Faith  uni- 
formly uses  the  word  "  elect"  in  its  true  scriptural  sense,  to 
signify  chosen  out  of  the  whole  race  of  fallen  men.  When  it 
speaks  of  infants  dying  in  infancy  as  elect,  its  obvious  meaning 
is,  that  they  are  elected  out  of  the  whole  mass  of  human  beings ; 
and  this  is  perfectly  consistent  with  the  opinion  that  all  who  die 
m  infancy  are  chosen  to  salvation. 

Let  us  now  inquire  whether  the  public  standards  of  other  de- 
aominations  are  more  orthodox  on  this  point  than  ours.  The 
Methodist  Discipline,  under  the  head  of  "ministration  of 
baptism  to  infants,"  directs  the  minister  to  pray  that  the  infant 
to  be  baptized,  "  may  ever  remain  in  the  number  of  thy  faithful 
and  elect  children."  Ch.  3,  sec.  2.  Of  course  if  the  infant  be 
in  the  number  of  the  elect,  it  must  itself  be  elect — an  elect  infant. 
Here  then  is  the  doctrine  of  "  infant  election"  in  all  its  length 
and  breadth.  I  will  add,  what  is  not  perhaps  generally  known  to 
the  world,  that  the  great  founder  of  Methodism  in  his  treatise  on 
Infant  Baptism,  published  by  the  General  Conference,  boldly 
avows  the  sentiment  that  infants  cannot  ordinarily  be  saved 
without  baptism.  "  If,"  says  he,  "  infants  are  guilty  of  original 
sin,  then  they  are  proper  subjects  of  baptism;  seeing,  in  the 


ARE    INFANTS    ELECTED?  103 

ordinary  way,  they  cannot  be  saved,  unless  this  be  washed  away 
by  baptism.  It  has  already  been  proved,"  he  adds,  "  that  this 
original  stain  cleaves  to  every  child  of  man ;  and  that  hereby 
they  are  children  of  wrath  and  liable  to  eternal  damnation." 
Doct.  Tracts,  p.  251.  Still  further  on,  in  summing  up  his  argu- 
ment, Mr.  Wesley  urges  that  "  outward  baptism  is  generally,  in 
an  ordinary  way,  necessary  to  salvation,"  and  that  "  infants  may 
be  saved,  as  well  as  adults."  He  adds,  "  Nor  ought  we  to 
neglect  any  means  of  saving  them."  P.  259.  From  this  reason- 
ing the  inference  is  unavoidable  that  infants  dying  without 
baptism,  ordinarily  at  least,  suffer  eternal  damnation.  The  very 
thought  of  this  is  enough  to  make  any  one  shudder  !  But  it  is 
not  so  much  my  object  to  convict  our  Methodist  brethren  of 
holding  "  infant  damnation,"  as  to  show  with  what  an  ill  grace 
charges  of  that  kind  are  preferred  against  others,  by  members 
of  their  communion. 

Our  Cumberland  brethren  in  their  Confession  of  Faith,  chap. 
10,  sec.  3,  admit  the  salvation  of  infants  ;  and  yet  in  section  1, 
of  the  same  chapter,  limit  the  blessings  of  eternal  life  to  "  those 
whom  God  calls,  and  who  obey  the  call,  and.  those  only ;^^  from 
which  number  infants  are  necessarily  excluded.*  Nor  do  they 
recognize  the  election  of  infants ;  but  on  the  contrary  affirm  that 
none  are  elect  "  in  a  saving  sense,"  but  those  who  are  "  enlight- 
ened in  the  knowledge  of  God,"  and  have  "  spiritual  wisdom  to 

*  Old  Arminian  divines,  as  Episcopius,  Curcellteus,  and  others,  contended  that 
infants  in  a  future  world,  though  saved  from  the  pains  of  hell,  would  always  remain 
in  an  infantine  state,  and  thus  be  incapable  of  enjoying  the  blessedness  of  ueavea. 
See  Ridgely,  vol.  2,  pp.  139,  140. 


104  CHILDREN    IN    HEAVEN. 

discern  and  detect  deceivers."  Confession  of  Faith,  ch.  3,  note. 
]\Iay  I  not  suggest,  that  as  their  own  public  standards  leave  this 
subject  so  much  in  the  dark,  they  should  be  somewhat  cautious 
in  charging  others  with  excluding  infants  from  the  blessedness  of 
heaven  ? 

Let  me  now  ask  the  opponents  of  infant  election,  what  they 
■will  do  with  those  w^ho  die  in  infancy,  if  they  are  not  the  "elect 
of  God  ?"  AVill  they  people  the  realms  of  glory  with  the 
reprobate  f  "Will  they  have  it  that  the  Lord  Jesus  will  gather 
the  non-elect  to  his  heavenly  kingdom  ?  Ah  !  this  doctrine  of 
infant  election  is  a  serious  annoyance  to  our  brethren.  They  can 
neither  deny  nor  admit  its  truth,  without  involving  themselves 
in  inextricable  difficulties.  If  they  admit  that  they  are  chosen 
to  salvation,  then  they  must  at  once  admit  the  doctrine  of  gratui- 
tous, unconditional  election,  with  all  its  tremendous  consequences. 
For  if  infants  are  elect  unto  salvation,  it  cannot  be  pretended 
that  they  were  elected  on  account  of  foreseen  faith  or  works,  or 
any  other  good  thing  in  the  creature.  I  say,  if  God  has  chosen 
them  to  life  and  glory,  he  must  have  chosen  them  "  according  to 
the  counsel  of  his  own  will,"  and  prompted  by  his  own  spon- 
taneous mercy.  Here,  then,  is  a  j^art  of  mankind,  comprising  at 
least  one  fourth  of  the  species,  dying  in  infancy,  and  all  subjects 
of  free,  sovereign,  gratuitous  election  !  Let  us  ask  these  brethren, 
Why  does  God  take  one  infant  to  heaven,  while  as  yet  it  is  un- 
stained with  actual  sin,  and  leave  another  to  grow  up  in  impeni- 
tence, to  become  polluted  with  crime,  and  sink  at  last  under  his 
fearful  displeasure?  What  is  this  but  sovereign,  discriminating 
mercy,  exerted  to  the  utmost  extent  ever  contended  for  by  the 


ARE    INFANTS    ELECTED?  105 

most  rigid  Calvinist  ?  Let  me  repeat  the  question  ;  Why  is  one 
taken  to  glory  in  infancy,  and  another,  born  on  the  same  day, 
spared  to  old  age  only  to  treasure  up  wrath  against  a  day  of 
wrath  ?  Truly  our  Anti-Calvinist  brethren  cannot  admit  this 
doctrine  of  the  election  of  infants,  without  involving  their  whole 
scheme  in  absolute  ruin. 

Again :  these  brethren  are  compelled  to  admit  that  infants 
cannot  be  saved  without  regeneration.  But  look  for  a  moment 
at  the  consequences  of  such  admission  by  Anti-Calvinists.  Ask 
them  the  question.  What  if  an  infant  should  die  before  regenera- 
tion ?  "  Oh,"  they  will  reply,  "  infants  cannot  die  before  they 
are  regenerated."  Why,  then,  it  follows  that  the  unregenerated 
part  of  our  species  are  immortal  while  in  a  state  of  infancy ! 
Let  no  one  start  at  this,  for  it  is  the  only  ground  on  which  these 
brethren  can  resist  the  damnation  of  infants, — the  immortality 
of  the  unregenerate  while  they  are  infants !  The  Calvinist 
easily  avoids  this  aj)palling  difficulty,  since  he  holds  that  God 
has  fore-ordained  the  salvation  of  infants,  and  consequently  has 
ordained  all  the  means  necessary  to  its  accomplishment.  Thus 
their  election  secures  their  regeneration. 

I  am  aware  that  some  individuals  have  long  been  labouring  to 
produce  the  impression  that  our  church  teaches  the  doctrine  of 
"  infant  damnation."  I  say,  some  incUmduals,  for  I  will  not  sup- 
pose that  the  great  body  of  any  Christian  denomination  are 
willing  to  countenance  so  wicked  a  slander.  It  has  often  been 
proved,  and  is  well  understood  by  the  intelligent  part  of  the 
community,  that  the  Presbyterians  do  not  now  and  never  did 

maintain  that  doctrine.     Nor,  indeed,  has  there  ever  existed  a 
u 


106  CHILDREN    IN    HEAVEN. 

Calviiiistic  body  who  maintained  it.*  Yet  in  opposition  k  the 
dearest  evidence,  these  individuals  either  secretly  or  openly,  by 
cowardly  insinuation,  or  by  confident  assertion,  labour  to  fix  this 
stigma  upon  the  members  of  our  communion.  No  means  are 
left  untried  to  effect  their  object.  So  systematically  and  exten- 
sively has  this  sort  of  calumny  been  practised,  in  some  parts  of 
our  country,  that  not  a  single  Calvinistic  minister  can  escape  it 
by  the  most  public  and  explicit  disavowals.  Certain  individuals 
can  be  found  who  are  willing  to  say  they  have  heard  him  preach, 
"  that  there  are  infants  in  hell  not  a  span  long."  Now,  my 
friends,  we  must  regard  all  this  as  an  evidence  of  a  persecuting 
spirit.  As  these  men  cannot  wield  the  civil  power  against  us, 
they  will  do  what  they  can  to  punish  us  for  holding  doctrines 
which  they  cannot  overthrow  by  fair  and  manly  argument.  God 
only  knows  the  extent  to  which  we  might  have  to  suffer  for  our 
religion,  were  it  not  for  the  protection  of  the  laws !  For  if  men 
will  propagate  the  most  wilful  and  deliberate  untruths  against  us, 
as  they  certainly  do,  for  no  other  offence  than  an  honest  differ- 
ence of  religious  belief,  what  would  they  not  do,  if  their  power 
were  equal  to  their  wickedness?  Presbyterians,  however,  can 
look  beyond  the  agency  of  evil  men,  to  the  Sapi  eme  Disposer  of 
all  events,  and  say  with  David,  when  Shimei  cursed  and  cast 
stones  at  him,  "  Let  them  alone,  for  the  Lord  hath  bidden  them." 

*  More  than  two  centuries  ago,  when  the  Calvinists  were  accused  by  their  Arminian 
opponents  of  holding  "  that  infants  are  torn  away  from  the  breasts  of  their  mothers, 
and  tyrannically  precipitated  into  hell,"  the  charge  was  indignantly  repelled  by  the 
Synod  of  Dort.     See  the  conclusion  of  their  Articles. 


mit  mtciton  of  Snfants. 

CUTHBERT. 

It  is  alleged  that  God,  in  delivering  fallen  men  from  sin  and 
condemnation,  proceeds  on  the  principle  of  selection — that,  ir- 
respective of  character,  or  desert,  or  external  circumstances,  he 
chooses  some  and  passes  hy  others — that  his  choice  is  represented 
as  embracing,  not  all  without  exception  comprehended  in  any- 
particular  class,  but  individuals  belonging  to  every  class — andj 
that  those  who  die  in  infancy,  being  a  distinct  and  immensely 
numerous  section  of  the  human  family,  God  deals  with  them  as 
he  does  with  the  different  communities  and  nations  of  the  earth  : 
"  he  has  mercy  on  whom  he  will  have  mercy." 

Admitting  that  God  does  proceed  on  the  principle  of  selec- 
tion, in  framing  and  carrying  into  effect  the  scheme  of  redemp- 
tion, those  who  die  in  infancy  cannot,  in  the  proper  sense  of  the 
term,  be  considered  a  distinct  class.  They  are  taken  from  the 
entire  human  race,  and  belong  to  "  every  kindred,  and  tongue, 
and  people,  and  nation."  And  I  should  imagine  that  Divine 
sovereignty  is  as  really  exercised  in  fixing  upon  the  families,  and 
the  individual  or  individuals,  in  each  of  these  families,  who  are 
to  be  removal  from  this  world  by  death,  and  conveyed  to  the 

*  From  "  Light  on  Little  Graves." 
107 


108  CHILDREN    IN    HEAVEN. 

mansions  of  glory  in  early  childhood,  as  it  is  in  calling  to  the 
faith  and  hope  of  the  gospel  those  who  are  ordained  to  eternal 
life,  from  the  mighty  mass  of  accountable  agents  dead  in  tres- 
passes and  sins.  The  principle  of  selection  is  not  less  strikingly 
apparent  in  the  one  case  than  it  is  in  the  other.  And  since  that 
principle  is  neither  infringed  nor  set  aside,  why  not  rather  sup- 
pose— especially,  as  the  spirit  of  the  mediatorial  economy,  and 
the  rule  which  will  be  acted  upon  by  the  Supreme  Judge  at  the 
last  day,  in  determining  the  state  of  the  subjects  of  his  moral 
government,  alike  point  to  the  conclusion — that  children,  who 
die  in  infancy,  are  comprehended  in  "  the  election  of  grace ;" 
and  that  they  are,  without  exception,  included  in  God's  eternal 
purpose  to  save  ? 

This  view  of  the  subject,  whilst  it  is  in  perfect  harmony  with 
all  that  we  know  of  the  Divine  character,  and  the  principles  of 
the  Divine  government,  commends  itself  to  our  hearts.  It  is 
fitted  to  produce,  in  our  minds,  elevated  conceptions  of  the 
worth  of  the  Saviour's  sacrifice,  and  adoring  wonder  at  the  re- 
sults which  flow  from  it.  It  invests,  with  thrilling  interest,  the 
statements  of  Scripture,  relating  to  the  number  of  the  redeemed 
from  among  men,  and  imparts  to  them  peculiar  significancy  and 
force.  And  whilst  each  one  in  the  vast  multitude  before  the 
celestial  throne  gratefully  recounts  his  obligations  to  sovereign 
grace,  and  celebrates  the  glories  of  redeeming  love,  none,  per- 
haps, express  their  rapturous  emotions  in  louder  strains  than 
those  who  find  themselves  amid  the  felicities  of  heaven,  almost 
immediately  after  they  are  ushered  into  being. 


SuEE,  to  the  mansions  of  the  blest 

When  infant  innocence  ascends, 
Some  angel,  brighter  than  the  rest, 

The  spotless  spirit's  flight  attends. 
On  wings  of  ecstasy  they  rise, 

Beyond  where  worlds  material  roll, 
Till  some  fair  sister  of  the  skies 

Receives  the  unpolluted  soul. 

That  inextinguishable  beam. 

With  dust  united  at  our  birth. 
Sheds  a  more  dim,  discoloured  gleam, 

The  more  it  lingers  upon  earth. 
Closed  in  this  dark  abode  of  clay, 

The  stream  of  glory  faintly  burns  :— 
Not  unobserved,  the  lucid  ray 

To  its  own  native  fount  returns. 

But  when  the  Lord  of  mortal  breath 
Decrees  his  bounty  to  resume, 

And  points  the  silent  shaft  of  death 
Which  speeds  an  infant  to  the  tomb-^ 

109 


110  CHILDREN    IN    HEAVEN. 

No  passion  fierce,  nor  low  desire, 

Has  quenched  the  radiance  of  the  flame ; 

Back  to  its  God  the  living  fire 
Reverts,  unclouded  as  it  came. 

Fond  mourner !  be  that  solace  thine ! 

Let  Hope  her  healing  charm  impart, 
And  soothe,  with  melodies  divine, 

The  anguish  of  a  mother's  heart. 
Oh,  think !  the  darlings  of  thy  love, 

Divested  of  this  earthly  clod, 
Amid  unnumbered  saints  above 

Bask  in  the  bosom  of  their  GrOD. 

Of  their  short  pilgrimage  on  earth 

Still  tender  images  remain: 
Still,  still  they  bless  thee  for  their  birth, 

Still  filial  gratitude  retain. 
Each  anxious  care,  each  rending  sigh. 

That  wrung  for  them  the  parent's  breast, 
Dwells  on  remembrance  in  the  sky, 

Amid  the  raptures  of  the  blest. 

O'er  thee,  with  looks  of  love,  they  bend  j 
For  thee  the  Lord  of  life  implore : 

And  oft  from  sainted  bliss  descend. 

Thy  wounded  quiet  to  restore.  ^ 

Oft  in  the  stillness  of  the  night,  ' 

They  smooth  the  pillow  of  thy  bed, 


GLORIFIED     CHILDREN.  HI 

Oft  till  the  morn's  returning  light 
Still  watchftd  hover  o'er  thy  head. 

Hark!  in  such  strains  as  saints  employ, 

They  whisper  to  thy  bosom  peace; 
Calm  the  perturbed  heart  to  joy, 

And  bid  the  streaming  sorrow  cease. 
Then  dry,  henceforth,  the  bitter  tear : 

Their  part  and  thine  inverted  see. 
Thou  wert  their  guardian  angel  here, 

They  guardian  angels  xow  to  thee! 


Mtep  not  far   i\t   gejitr. 

MARY  E.  BROOKS. 

Oh,  weep  not  for  the  dead ! 
Rather,  oh  rather  give  the  tear 
To  those  that  darkly  linger  here, 

When  all  besides  are  fled. 
Weep  for  the  spirit  withering 
In  its  cold  cheerless  sorrowing. 
Weep  for  the  young  and  lovely  one 
That  ruin  darkly  revels  on; 

But  never  be  a  tear-drop  shed 

For  them,  the  pure  enfranchised  dead. 

Oh,  weep  not  for  the  dead! 
No  more  for  them  the  blighting  chill, 
The  thousand  shades  of  earthly  ill, 

The  thousand  thorns  we  tread; 
Weep  for  the  life-charm  early  flown. 
The  spirit  broken,  bleeding   lone; 
Weep  for  the  death-pangs  of  the  heart. 
Ere  being  from  the  bosom  part; 
But  never  be  a  tear-drop  given 
To  those  that  rest  in  yon  blue  heaven. 

112 


JAMES  MONTGOMERY.* 

"  Happy,  thrice  happy  were  they  thus  to  die, 
Rather  than  grow  into  such  men  and  women, 
— Such  fiends  incarnate  as  that  felon-sire, 
Who  dug  its  grave  before  his  child  was  born  ; 
Such  miserable  wretches  as  that  mother, 
Whose  tender  mercies  were  so  deadly  cruel ! 

I  saw  their  infant's  spirit  rise  to  heaven. 
Caught  from  its  birth  up  to  the  throne  of  God  ; 
There,  thousands  and  ten  tliousands,  I  beheld, 
Of  innocents  like  this,  that  died  untimely, 
By  violence  of  their  unnatural  kin. 
Or  by  the  mercy  of  that  gracious  power, 
Who  gave  them  being,  taking  what  he  gave 
Ere  they  could  sin  or  suffer  like  their  parents. 
I  saw  them  in  white  raiment  crowned  with  flowers. 
On  the  fair  banks  of  that  resplendent  I'iver, 
Whose  streams  make  glad  the  city  of  our  God ; 
— Water  of  life,  as  clear  as  crystal  swelling 

*  From  "  Pelican  Isliiiul,"  canto  vii.,  wliere  he   clcscriLes  a  heathen   parent   sacri- 
ficing her  child. 

15  113 


114  CHILDREN     IN     HEAVEN. 

Forth  from  the  throne  itself,  and  visiting 
■     Fields  of  a  Paradise  that  ne'er  was  lost ; 
Where  yet  the  tree  of  life  immortal  grows, 
And  bears  its  monthly  fruits,  twelve  kinds  of  fruit, 
Each  in  its  season,  food  of  saints  and  angels ; 
Whose  leaves  are  for  the  healing  of  the  nations. 
Beneath  the  shadow  of  its  blessed  boughs, 
I  marked  those  rescued  infants,  in  their  schools, 
By  spirits  of  just  men  made  perfect,  taught 
The  glorious  lessons  of  Almighty  Love, 
Which  brought  them  thither  in  the  readiest  path 
From  the  world's  wilderness  of  dire  temptations 
Securing  thus  their  everlasting  weal. 

Yea,  in  the  rapture  of  that  hour,  though  songs 

Of  cherubim  to  golden  lyres  and  trumpets, 

And  the  redeemed  upon  the  sea  of  glass. 

With  voices  like  the  sound  of  many  waters 

Came  on  mine  ear,  whose  secret  cells  were  opened 

To  entertain  celestial  harmonies, 

— The  small  sweet  accents  of  those  little  children. 

Pouring  out  all  the  gladness  of  their  souls 

In  love,  joy,  gratitude,  and  praises  to  Him, 

— Him,  who  had  loved  and  washed  them  in  his  blood ; 

These  were  to  me  tlie  most  transporting  strains, 

Amidst  the  hallelujahs  of  all  heaven. — 

Though  lost  a  while  in  that  amazing  chorus 

Around  the  throne, — at  happy  intervals. 


HAPPY    AKE    TIIEY.  115 

The  slirill  hosannas  of  the  infant  choir, 
Singing  in  that  eternal  temple,  brouglit 
Tears  to  mine  eye,  whilst  seraphs  had  been  glad 
To  weep,  could  they  have  felt  the  sympathy 
That  melted  all  my  soul,  wlien  I  beheld 
How  condescending  Deity  thus  designed, 
Out  of  the  mouths  of  babes  and  sucklings  here. 
To  perfect  his  high  praises ; — the  harp  of  heaven 
Had  lacked  its  least  but  not  its  meanest  string. 
Had  children  not  been  taught  to  play  upon  it, 
And  sing,  from  feelings  all  their  own,  what  men 
Nor  angels  can  conceive  of  creatures,  born 
Under  the  curse,  yet  from  the  curse  redeemed. 
And  placed  at  once  beyond  the  power  to  fall, 
— Safety  which  men  nor  angels  ever  knew. 
Till  ranks  of  these,  and  all  of  those  had  fallen. 


In  heart  divided,  and  in  spirit  rent, 

Who  could  forbid  a  mother  to  lament? 

Death !  thou  dread  looser  of  the  dearest  tie, 

Was  there  no  aged  and  no  sick  one  nigh? 

No  languid  wretch  who  longed,  but  longed  in  vain, 

For  thy  cold  hand  to  cool  his  fiery  pain? 

And  was  the  only  victim  thou  couldst  find, 

An  infant  on  its  mother's  arms  reclined? 

But  'tis  thy  way  to  pass  the  ripest  by. 

And  cause  the  flowers  and  buds  of  life  to  die ; 

Full  many  a  flower  is  scattered  by  the  breeze, 

And  many  a  blossom  shaken  from  the  trees, 

And  many  a  morning  beam  in  tempest  flies. 

And  many  a  dew-drop  shines  a  while  and  dies : 

But  oftener  far,  the  dream  that  fancy  weaves, 

Of  future  joy  and  happiness,  deceives. 

And  thou  pale  mourner,  o'er  an  infant's  bier, 

Brighten  thy  cheek,  and  dry  the  trickling  tear; 

This  came,  though  veiled  in  darkness,  from  above, 

A  dispensation  of  eternal  love! 

116 


THE     DEATH     OF      ILN     INFANT.  117 

He  wlio  perceived  the  dangerous  control, 

The  heart-twined  spell  was  gaining  on  thy  soul, 

Snatched  from  thine  arms  the  treacherous  decoy, 

To  give  thee  brighter  hope  and  purer  joy. 

Oh !  see  how  soon  the  flowers  of  life  decay, 

How  soon  terrestrial  pleasures  fade  away. 

This  star  of  comfort,  for  a  moment  given, 

Just  rose  on  earth,  then  set  to  rise  in  heaven. 

Yet  mourn  not,  as  of  hope  bereft,  its  doom. 

Nor  water  M'ith  thy  tears  its  early  tomb ; 

Redeemed  by  God  from  sin,  released  from  pain, 

Its  life  were  punishment,  its  death  were  gain. 

Turn  back  thine  eye  along  the  path  of  life. 

View  thine  own  grief,  and  weariness  and  strife: 

And  say,  if  that  which  tempts  thee  to  repine. 

Be  not  a  happier  lot  by  far  than  thine. 

If  death  in  infancy  had  laid  thee  low. 

Thou  hadst  escaped  from  pain,  and  sin,  and  woe ; 

The  years  thy  soul  the  path  of  sorrow  trod. 

Had  all  been  spent  in  converse  with  thy  God ; 

And  thou  hadst  shone  in  yonder  cloudless  sphere, 

A  seraph  there,  and  not  a  pilgrim  here. 

O !  it  is  sweet  to  die, — to  part  from  earth, — 

And  win  all  heaven  for  things  of  little  Morth ; 

Then  sure  thou  wouldst  not,  though  thou  couldst  awake 

The  little  slumberer,  for  its  mother's  sake. 

It  is  M'hen  those  we  love,  in  death  depart. 

That  earth  has  slightest  hold  upon  the  heart. 


118  CHILDKEN     IN     HEAVEN. 

Hath  not  bereavement  higher  wishes  tauglit, 

And  purified  from  earth,  thine  earth-born  thought? 

I  know  it  hath.     Hope  then  appears  more  dear, 

And  heaven's  bright  realms  shine  brightest  through  a  tear. 

Though  it  be  hard  to  bid  thy  heart  divide, 

And  lay  the  gem  of  all  thy  love  aside — 

Faith  tells  thee,  and  it  tells  thee  not  in  vain, 

That  thou  shalt  meet  thine  infant  yet  again. 

On  seraph  wings    the  new-born  spirit  flies 

To  brighter  regions  and  serener  skies  ; 

And,  ere  thou  art  aware,  the  day  may  be 

When  to  those  skies  thy  babe  shall  welcome  thee. 

While  yet  on  earth,  thine  ever-circling  arms 

Held  it  securest  from  surrounding  harms; 

Yet  even  there,  disease  could  aim  her  dart, 

Chill  the  warm  cheek,  and  stop  the  fluttering  heart. 

And  many  a  fruitless  tear-drop  thou  hast  paid, 

To  view  the  sickness  that  thou  couldst  not  aid. 

No  ill  can  reach  it  now,  it  rests  above, 

Safe  in  the  bosom  of  celestial  love : 

Its  short  but  yet  tempestuous  way  is  o'er. 

And  tears  shall  trickle  down  its  cheek  no  more. 

Then  far  be  grief!     Faith  looks  beyond  the  tomb. 

And  heaven's  bright  portals  sparkle  through  the  gloom. 

If  bitter  thoughts  and  tears  in  heaven  could  be, 

It  is  thine  infant  that  should  weep  for  thee. 


RICHARD  HUIE,  M.D. 

My  little  one,  my  fair  one,  are  then  thy  troubles  o'er, 

And  has  thy  slight  and  feeble  bai'k  arrived  at  Canaan's  shore  ? 

Hast  thou  at  length  a  haven  reached,  where  thou  canst  anchor 

fast, 
And  heed  no  more  the  pelting  storm,  the  billow  or  the  blast  ? 

My  little  one,  my  fair  one,  though  brief  thy  course  has  been. 
Few  days  of  sunshine  cheered  thee  on,  few  smiling  coasts  were 

seen; 
It 'seemed  as  o'er  thy  shallop  frail  the  raven  flapped  his  wing, 
And  scared  the  bright  and  halcyon  tribes,  which  might  thine 

advent  sing. 

My  little  one,  my  fair  one,  thy  couch  is  empty  now, 
AVhere  oft  I  wiped  the  dews  away,  which  gathered  on  thy  brow; 
No  more  amidst  the  sleepless  night  I  smooth  thy  pillow  fair, 
Tis  smooth  indeed,  but  rest  no  more  thy  small  pale  features 
there. 

My  little  one,  my  fair  one,  thy  tiny  carriage  waits, 
But  waits  in    vain    to    bear    thy  form    through    yon    inviting 
gates; 

•  From  "  Sacred  Lyrics." 
119 


120  CHILDREN    IN    HEAVEN.   ■ 

Where  bloom  the  flowers  as  erst  they  did,  when  thou  couldst 

cull  their  sweets, 
But  roams   in  vain  thy  father's   eye,  no   answering  glance   it 

meets. 

My  little  one,  my  fair  one,  thy  lips  were  early  trained 

To  lisp  that  gracious  Saviour's  name,  who  all  thy  guilt  sus- 
tained : 

Nor  would  I  weep  because  my  Lord  has  snatched  my  gourd 
away, 

To  blossom  bright,  and  ripen  fair,  in  realms  of  endless  day. 

My  little  one,  my  fah-  one,  thou  canst  not  come  to  me. 
But  nearer  draws  the  numbered  hour,  when  I  shall  go  to  thee, 
And  thou,  perchance,  with  seraph  smile,  and   golden  harp  in 

hand, 
May'st  come  the  first  to  welcome  me,  to  our  Emmanuel's  land ! 


Clibe    Snfant's    iWiniature. 

Yes  !  thou  art  here,  my  sainted  babe ! 

Thy  lustrous  eyes  of  bhie — 
The  long  dark  fringe  which  o'er  them  sleep, 

As  silken  curtains  drew — 
The  full  red  lip,  the  dimpled  cheek, 

The  polished  lofty  brow — 
The  matchless  smile  that  lighted  all — 

They're  here  before  me  now. 

Yet  years,  long  years,  have  passed  away, 

Since  I,  a  mother  blest, 
And  thou,  a  babe  too  fair  for  earth. 

Didst  nestle  to  this  breast. 
Thy  rosy  dreams  were  not  more  sweet 

Than  were  the  moments  then ; 
But  all  their  joys  are  numbered  now 

With  pleasures  that  have  been. 

The  most  that  I  retain  of  thee 

Is  one  small  sunny  curl ; 
A  treasure  I  would  not  exchttnge 

For  ocean's  rarest  pearl ; 

Though  this  briglit  picture,  true  to  life, 

lieaills  thy  infant  charms 
16  121 


122  CHILDREN     IN     HEAVEN. 

So  vividly,  I  seem  again 
To  clasp  thee  in  my  arms. 

'Tis  beautiful  to  look  upon — 

But  only  doth  portray 
The  casket,  which  a  jewel  held 

That  God  hath  borne  away  ; 
For  shining  in  his  dazzling  crown^ 

Is  many  an  infant  gem, 
And  he  required  this  precious  one 

To  deck  that  diadem. 

And  oh !  to  paint  a  cherub  soul, 

In  vain  the  artist  tries  ! 
For  this,  his  pencil  must  be  dipped 

In  azure  of  the  skies ; 
Borrow  the  rainbow's  hue,  and  make 

The  glittering  stars  its  own ; 
For  angel  beauty  never  yet 

In  earthly  colours  shone. 

So  let  me  think  of  thee,  my  babe ! 

As  when  thou  wert  of  earth ; 
And,  like  this  picture,  radiant  with 

Tlie  smiles  of  infant  mirth. 
Forget  the  dismal  hour  when  God 

Recalled  what  he  had  given. 
And  hope  to  see  thee  as  thou  art. 

And  claim  thee  still  in  heaven ! 


^I^ilb's    ^cutl^. 


R.  B.  SHERIDAN. 

Ix  some  rude  spot  where  vulgar  lierbage  grows, 

If  chance  a  violet  rear  its  purple  head, 
The  careful  gardener  moves  it  ere  it  blows, 
To  thrive  and  flourish  in  a  nobler  bed  ; 
Such  was  thy  fate,  dear  child, 
Thy  opening  such  ! 
Pre-eminence  in  early  bloom  was  shown ; 
For  earth,  too  good,  perhaps ; 
And  loved  too  much — 
Hea^'en  saw,  and  early  marked  thee  for  its  own. 
123 


Scatlj  of  an  <^ufitnt. 

MRS.  L.  H.  SIGOURNEY. 

Death  found  strange  beiuity  on  that  poli^lied  brow, 
And  clashed  it  out. — 

There  was  a  tint  of  rose 
On  cheek  and  lip. — He  touched  the  veins  with  ice, 
And  the  rose  faded. — 

Forth  from  those  blue  eyes 
There  spake  a  wishful  tenderness,  a  doubt 
Whether  to  grieve  or  sleep,  whicli  innocence 
Alone  may  wear.     With  ruthless  haste  he  bound 
The  silken  frino;es  of  those  curtaiuina;  lids 
For  ever. — 

There  had  been  a  murmuring  sound, 
With  which  the  babe  would  claim  its  mother's  ear, 
Charming  her  even  to  tears.     The  spoiler  set 
His  seal  of  silence. — 

But  there  beamed  a  smile 
So  fixed,  so  holy,  from  that  cherub  brow, 
Death  gazed — and  loft  it  there. 

He  dared  not  steal 
The  signet  ring  of  Heaven. 

124 


WM.  C.  BENNETT. 

Oh  !  those  little,  those  little  blue  shoes  I 
Those  shoes  that  no  little  feet  use ; 
Oh !  the  price  were  high 
That  those  shoes  would  buy, 
Those  little  blue  unused  shoes  ! 

For  they  hold  the  small  shape  of  feet 
That  no  more  their  mother's  eyes  meet; 

That  by  God's  good  will. 

Years  since  grew  still, 
And  ceased  from  their  totter  so  sweet. 

And  oh  !  since  that  baby  slept. 

So  hushed,  how  the  mother  has  kept, 

With  a  tearful  pleasure, 

That  little  dear  treasure, 
And  over  them  thought  and  wept! 

For  they  mind  her  for  evermore 
Of  a  patter  along  the  floor ; 

125 


126  CHILDREN     IN     HEAVEN. 

And  bine  eyes  she  sees 
Look  up  from  her  knees, 
With  the  look  that  in  life  they  wore. 

I  As  they  lie  before  her  tfiere, 

There  babbles  from  chair  to  chair 
A  little  sweet  face 
That's  a  gleam  in  the  place, 
With  its  little  gold  curls  of  hair. 

Then,  oh  !  wonder  not  that  her  heart 
From  all  else  would  rather  part 

Than  those  tiny  blue  shoes 

That  no  little  feet  use, 
And  whose  sight  makes  such  fond  tears  start. 


goto    sl^e    ^ics, 

MRS.  NORTON. 

Low  she  lies,  who  blest  our  eyes 

Through  many  a  sunny  day ; 
She  may  not  smile,  she  will  not  rise, — 

The  life  has  past  away  ! 
Yet  there  is  a  world  of  light  beyond, 

Where  we  neither  die  nor  sleep  ; 
She  is  there,  of  whom  our  souls  were  fond. 

Then,  wherefore  do  we  weep? 

The  heart  is  cold,  whose  thoughts  were  told 

In  each  glance  of  her  glad  bright  eye; 
And  she  lies  pale,  who  was  so  bright. 

She  scarce  seemed  made  to  die. 
Yet  we  know  that  her  soul  is  happy  now. 

Where  the  saints  their  calm  watch  keep ; 
That  angels  are  crowning  that  fair  young  brow, 

Then,  wherefore  do  we  weep  ? 

Her  laughing  voice  made  all  rejoice. 

Who  caught  the  happy  sound ; 
127 


128  CHILDREN     IN    HEAVEN. 

There  was  gladness  in  her  very  step, 

As  it  lightly  touched  the  ground. 
The  echoes  of  voice  and  step  are  gone, 

There  is  silence  still  and  deep; 
Yet  we  know  that  she  sings  by  God's  bright  throne. 

Then,  wherefore  do  we  weep? 

The  cheek's  pale  tinge,  the  lid's  dark  fringe, 

That  lies  like  a  shadow  there, 
Were  beautiful  in  the  eyes  of  all. 

And  her  glossy  golden  hair  ! 
But  though  that  lid  may  never  wake 

From  its  dark  and  dreamless  sleep; 
She  is  gone  where  young  hearts  do  not  break. 

Then,  wherefore  do  we  weep  ? 

That  world  of  light  with  joy  is  bright. 

This  is  a  world  of  woe ; 
Shall  we  grieve  that  her  soul  has  taken  flight 

Because  we  dwell  below? 
We  will  bury  her  under  the  mossy  sod. 

And  one  long  bright  tress  w^e'll  keep ; 
We  have  only  given  her  back  to  God, 

Then,  wherefore  do  we  weep? 


tnbont  of   80b    in  ferrst  to    Miiih  mnlbxtn. 

GEORGE  W.  BETHUNE,  D.D. 

The  great  truth  of  the  Gospel  is,  that  God  deh"ghts  to  save, 
of  which  he  has  given  the  strongest  possible  assurance  in  the 
mission  of  his  only  begotten  Son  (John  iii.  16.)  He  has  com- 
manded his  gospel  to  be  preached  throughout  the  world,  and  so 
worded  his  invitations  as  to  show,  that  whosoever  will,  may  come 
and  take  of  the  waters  of  life  freely  (Rev.  xxii.  17.)  Therefore, 
though  he  had  given  no  tokens  of  regard  for  those,  who,  because 
of  their  tender  age,  cannot  come  unto  him,  nor  put  forth  their 
hands  to  receive  his  grace ;  the  silence  itself,  connected  with  the 
gracious  spirit  of  what  he  has  revealed,  Avould  warrant  us  in 
believing  that  not  one  of  the  little  ones  should  perish.  But  he 
is  not  silent  respecting  them,  nor  has  he  refused  them  tokens  of 
his  special  regard,  as  may  be  shown  abundantly  from  his  Holy 
Scriptures. 

The  favour  of  God  in  Christ  tow^ard  little  children,  confirms 
this  doctrine. 

This  favour  appears  in  the  very  first  promise  of  mercy,  for  it 

■"  From  "Early  Lost,  Early  Saved,"  an  excellent  little  volume  published  by  tlie 
Board  of  Publieatif>n  of  the  Reformed  Dutch  Church,  New  York. 
17  129 


130  CHILDREN    IN    HEAVEN. 

was  by  the  seed  of  the  woman  that  God  declared  the  head  of  the 
serpent  should  be  bruised  (Gen.  iii.  15.)  When,  therefore,  our 
first  mother  embraced  her  first-born,  she  saw  proof  of  the  coming 
salvation  in  her  babe,  and  exclaimed :  "  I  have  gotten  a  man 
from  the  Lord  "  (Gen.  iv.  1.)  So,  throughout  subsequent  ages, 
believers  under  the  Old  Testament  looked  upon  their  offspring 
as  peculiarly  precious,  because  proofs  of  Divine  faithfulness. 
Farther  to  consecrate  and  encourage  this  sentiment,  God  appointed 
in  the  family  of  Abraham  the  rite  of  circumcision,  by  which  the 
parent  manifested  his  faith  that  God  was  the  God  of  his  child. 
It  was  not  possible  for  them  to  believe  the  promise  of  a  future 
Redeemer,  without  seeing  that  their  babes  were  included  by  ite 
blessings.  The  child,  if  he  lived  to  grow  up,  might  cut  himself 
off  from  the  covenant  by  his  own  sin  (Ex.  xii.  15  ;  xxxi.  14;) 
the  first-born  of  woman  became  the  murder-cursed  Cain ;  but 
the  babe,  as  a  babe,  was  from  his  birth  an  object  of  the  Divine 
favour  and  compassion. 

Nor  was  this  regard  confined  to  the  children  of  God's  believ- 
ing people ;  though,  for  obvious  reasons,  their  privileges  were 
greater.  Among  the  grounds  of  condemnation,  which,  by  his 
prophet,  he  denounces  against  the  worshippers  of  Baal,  not  the 
least  is,  that  they  had  shed  the  blood  of  many  "  innocents  "  (Jer. 
xix.  4  ;)*  alluding,  doubtless,  as  the  fifth  verse  shows,  to  the  cruel 
(sustom  of  sacrificing  young  children  in  honour  of  the  demon. 
It  was  an  aggravation  of  the  crime  that  these  children  were 
descendants  of  the  covenanted  fathers,  from  whose  faith  their 

*  Compare  Ezekiel  xvi.  17,  "wfy  children."' 


THE    FAVOUR    OF    GOD    IN    CHRIST.  131 

more  immediate  parents  had  apostatized ;  yet  the  prophet  does 
not  speak  of  tliem  in  that  character,  but  as  "  innocents,"  and, 
therefore,  because  of  their  helpless  innocency,  peculiarly  objects 
of  the  Divine  care.* 

Another  remarkable  passage,  often  cited  by  advocates  of  our 
doctrine,  occurs  in  the  book  of  Jonah  (iv.  10,  11,)  where  God, 
answering  with  rebuke  the  unmerciful  complaint  of  the  disap- 
pointed prophet,  says :  "  Should  I  not  spare  Nineveh,  that  great 
city,  wherein  are  more  than  six-score  thousand  persons  that  can- 
not discern  between  their  right  hand  and  their  left  ?"  by  which 
is  meant  infants.  What  we  are  particularly  to  remark,  in  these 
two  citations,  is  the  reason  which  God  assigns  for  his  tender  con- 
cern respecting  "  little  ones ;"  their  personal  innocence,  their  in- 
capacity of  actual  moral  wrong.  Their  adult  fathers  were  guilty 
on  their  own  account,  and  he  might  with  justice  have  destroyed 
them ;  but  the  little  ones  who  "  could  not  discern  between  their 
right  hand  and  their  left,"  the  "  innocent,"  were  regarded  by  him 
with  aifectionate  compassion. 

Now,  asks  an  excellent  writer,  commenting  on  the  19th  of 
Jeremiah :  "  Can  it  be  supposed  that  he,  who  undertook,  in 
such  tremendous  language,  to  avenge  their  temporal  injuries, - 
was  at  the  same  time  intending  to  destroy  them  for  ever ;  that 
he  left  those  murdered  babes  an  eternal  prey  to  devils,  in  whose 
obscure  and  sanguinary  orgies,  their   innocent  blood   had  been 

*  The  author  here  adopts  the  opinion  of  some  very  able  commentators;  but  he  is 
aware  that  others  refer  the  "  innocent  blood"  also  to  the  martyrdom  of  prophets  .and 
other  just  persons.  Still,  the  sacrificed  children  are  included,  and  the  inference  is 
gtrengthened  by  the  babes  being  put  in  the  same  category  with  holy  men. 


132  CHILDREN    IN    HEAVEN. 

shed  ?"*  And  again  he  says,  in  the  4th  of  Jonah,  "  Of  the  six- 
score  thousand  Ninevite  children,  about  sixty  thousand  were 
probably  removed  from  life  while  they  knew  not  their  right  hand 
from  their  left.  It  seems  incredible,  that  after  these  expres- 
sions of  regard,  such  infants,  dying  without  having  forfeited  this 
tender  concern  by  personal  transgression,  should  be  excluded 
from  the  presence  of  God  for  ever." 

Some  may  think  that  the  force  of  these  passages  is  neutralized 
by  others,  where  God  commanded  little  ones  to  be  slain  with 
their  idolatrous  parents,  as  in  the  case  of  the  Midianites  (Num- 
bers xxxi.  17  ;)  but  we  have  nowhere  denied  (what,  indeed,  every 
houf's  observation  should  convince  us  of,)  that  children  may  be 
involved  by  the  temporal  consequences  of  their  parents'  crimes, 
as  those  of  Nineveh  would  have  been  if  the  repentance  of  the 
city  had  not  turned  away  the  Divine  vengeance,  and  as  the  little 
ones  of  idolatrous  Israel  were  when  sacrificed  unto  Baal.  God 
in  ancient  times,  as  now,  punished  national  sins  with  national 
calamities  ;  and,  when  his  decree  went  forth  to  destroy  a  nation 
by  the  sword,  the  children  were  not  spared  any  more  than  they 
are  from  a  pestilence  or  earthquake.  Besides,  his  providence 
towards  Israel  was  peculiar.  His  design  was,  for  wise  reasons, 
to  keep  them  in  the  land  of  Canaan  as  a  separate  people,  their 
Abrahamic  lineage  pure,  and  their  Divine  religion  uncorrupt. 
Therefore,  he  cleared  the  land  of  those  idolatrous  nations  which 
had  possessed  it,  and  provoked  him  to  anger.  Had  any  number, 
particularly  of  the  males,  been  permitted  to  survive,  there  must 

*  Rev.  Dr.  Harris'  "Grounds  of  Hope  for  the  Salvation  of  all  Dying  in  Infancy." 
London,  1821. 


THE    FAVOUR    OF    GOD    IN    CHRIST.  133 

have  been  constant  insurrections,  a  depravation  of  their  blood, 
and  a  tendency  to  idolatry.  Severe  as  the  measure  was,  and  far 
from  justifying  imitation  by  men,  it  was  as  necessary  to  the 
conservation  of  Israel  as  it  was  deserved  by  the  Canaanite 
tribes.  It  is,  however,  by  no  means  a  proof  that  God  pursued 
the  little  ones  of  his  enemies  with  vengeance  in  another  world. 
They  passed  from  under  the  sword  of  Moses,  punishing  their 
nation  for  the  capital  crime  of  idolatry,  before  that  judgment- 
seat  where  every  soul  is  tried  by  its  own  acts.  If  our  doctrine 
be  true,  we  see  the  light  of  saving  mercy  shed  over  the  darkest 
and  bloodiest  pages  of  temporal  providence. 

With  the  fulness  of  time,  the  light  of  hope  for  the  dying 
infant,  which  before  was  glimmering,  became  clear   and  bright. 

Among  the  characteristics  of  Christianity,  not  the  least  re- 
markable and  beautiful,  is  its  tender  favour  towards  little  chil- 
dren. 

The  great  Forerunner  of  our  Lord  came  not  in  the  strength 
of  a  full-grown  man.  The  first  intimation,  that  the  kingdom  of 
God  was  nigh  at  hand,  was  given  in  the  promise  of  a  little  child: 
"  Fear  not,  Zacharias,  for  thy  prayer  is  heard  ;  and  thy  wife 
Elizabeth  shall  bear  thee  a  son,  and  thou  shalt  call  his  name 
John.  And  thou  shalt  have  joy  and  gladness,  and  many  shall 
rejoice  at  his  6«-f A.  And  he  shall  be  great  in  the  sight  of  the 
liOrd,  and  shall  drink  neither  wine  nor  strong  drink ;  and  he 
t^hall  be  filled  with  the  Holy  Ghost,  etrn/rom  his  mother's  womb'' 
(Luke  i.  13,  14,  15.)  So,  when  the  promise  was  fulfilled,  and 
the  happy  father  held  his  son  in  his  arms,  he  prophesied  over 
him  witli  gladness,  and  said,  "Thou,  child,  shalt  be  called  the 


134  CHILDREN    IN    HEAVEN. 

prophet  of  the  Highest!''  (Luke  i.  67-80.)  The  Harbinger  of 
the  gospel  was  a  sanctified  little  cJiild. 

Then,  when  to  the  humble  shepherds  in  the  fields,  keeping 
watch  over  their  flock  by  night,  the  angel  of  the  Lord  came,  and 
the  glory  of  the  Lord  shone  round  about  them,  what  was  his 
announcement  of  good  tidings  of  great  joy,  which  should  be  to 
all  people  ?  "  Unto  you  is  born  this  day,  in  the  city  of  David, 
a  Saviour,  which  is  Christ  the  Lor^.  And  this  shall  be  a  sign 
unto  you.  Ye  shall  find  the  Babe  wrapped  in  swaddling  clothes, 
lying  in  a  manger"  (Luke  ii.  8,  12.)  They  ran  with  haste  unto 
Bethlehem,  and  there  they  found  the  blessed  Virgin  Mother 
gazing  upon  her  mysterious  CHILD,  already  named  by  the  Holy 
Ghost,  Jesus,  the  Saviour ;  Emmanuel,  God  with  us. 

Wise  men  from  the  east,  moved  by  traditions  of  ancient 
prophecy,  the  appearance  of  the  star  of  which  Balaam  had 
spoken  (Num.  xxiv.  17,)  and,  doubtless,  by  inspiration  from  on 
high,  came  with  princtlr  gifts  to  worship  Him  that  was  horn 
King  of  the  Jeios;  and  lo!  the  star  which  they  had  seen  in  the 
east  went  before  them  till  it  came  and  stood  near  where  the 
YOUNG  CHILD  lay;  and  when  they  saw  the  star  they  rejoiced 
with  exceeding  great  joy.  And  when  they  were  come  into  the 
house,  they  saw  the  young  child,  with  Mary,  his  mother,  and 
fell  down  and  worsJiipped  Him  (Matt.  ii.  1-11.) 

Can  any  one  read  these  passages,  without  perceiving  that  our 
Divine  Lord  was  a  Saviour  worthy  of  all  adoration  and  trust 
from  his  very  birth "?  It  was,  indeed,  necessary  for  him  to  be 
born  of  a  woman,  that  he  might  be  truly  man ;  and  having  been 
born,  to  pass  through  the  years  which  intervene  before  the  full 


THE  FAVOUR  OF  GOD  IN  CHRIST.        135" 

age,  when,  agreeably  to  Jewish  rule,  he  might  assume  his  office 
publicly.  We  see,  also,  in  his  feeble  beginning,  a  parable  of  his 
cause,  which,  though  apparently  weak  and  of  little  worldly  ac- 
count at  first,  is  destined  to  attain  the  highest  glory.  These, 
however,  were  not  all  the  reasons  why  he  came  as  a  little  child, 
yet  a  Saviour,  passed  through  all  the  weaknesses,  sorrows,  and 
trials  of  infancy,  being  tried  in  all  points  as  little  ones  are ;  and 
rewarded  the  care  of  his  pious  mother  with  child-like,  affection- 
ate observance.  It  was  to  teach  us  that  he  is  the  Saviour  of 
little  children,  who  bear  his  likeness  more  closely  than  the  best 
disciple  of  mature  years  ever  can,  as  well  as  of  the  adults  who 
believe  in  his  name.  It  was  to  claim  the  whole  world  of  infancy 
as  his  own,  however  men  might  reject  his  grace.  It  was  to 
assure  the  anxious  mother  bending  over  his  image  in  her  child, 
that 

"  She  may  trust  her  sweet  babe  through  the  hour  of  danger. 
To  the  mercy  of  Him,  who  was  laid  in  a  manger." 

Nor  did  the  "  holy  child  jesus  "  wait  long  for  an  oppor- 
tunity of  saving  his  little  fellows.  The  cruel  Herod,  fearful  of 
losing  his  throne  because  the  true  King  of  the  Jews  was  born, 
"  sent  forth  and  slew  all  the  children  that  were  in  Bethlehem, 
and  in  all  the  coasts  thereof,  from  two  years  old  and  under" 
(Matt.  ii.  16  ;)  and,  though  the  one  he  sought  was  carried  beyond 
his  malice,  hundreds  (or  as  some  think,  thousands)  of  babes  and 
sucklings  yielded  their  young  lives  to  a  persecution  of  the  infant 
Saviour.  On  earth,  "  in  Rama  was  there  a  voice  heard,  lamenta- 
tion and  weeping,  and  a  great  mourning ;  Rachel  weeping  for 
her  children   and  refusing  to  be  comforted,  because  they  were 


136  CHILDREN    IN    HEAVEN. 

not"  (Luke  ii.  18;)  but  in  heaven  there  was  great  joy,  as  tne 
happy  angels  bore  on  rejoicing  wings  to  their  Father's  house  the 
young  redeemed,  a  numerous  proof  that  Jesus  had  entered  his 
kingdom  and  claimed  little  children  for  his  own.  The  rage  oi 
Herod  against  the  infant  King,  but  sent  the  little  ones  to  shout, 
among  the  blessed.  His  praises, 

"  Who  brought  them  there, 
Without  a  wish,  without  a  care." 

Dear  Matthew  Henry,  here  sweetly  though  quaintly  says :  "  A 
passive  testimony  was  given  hereby  to  the  Lord  Jesus,  as  when 
he  was  in  the  womb  he  was  witnessed  to  by  a  little  child 
leaping  in  the  womb  for  joy  at  his  approach  ;  so  now,  at  two  years 
old,  he  had  contemporary  witnesses  to  him  of  the  same  age. 
They  shed  their  blood  for  him,  who  afterwards  shed  his  blood 
for  them.  These  were  the  infantry  of  the  noble  army  of  martyrs. 
If  these  infants  were  thus  baptized  with  blood,  though  it  were 
their  own,  into  the  church  triumphant,  it  could  not  be  said  but 
tliat,  with  what  they  got  in  heaven,  they  were  abundantly  recom- 
pensed for  all  they  lost  on  earth.  '  Out  of  the  mouth  of  these 
babes  and  sucklings  God  did  perfect  praise,  otherwise  it  is  not 
good  to  the  Almighty  that  he  should  thus  afflict.' "  Good 
Jeremy  Taylor  speaks  to  the  same  import :  "  Jesus,  when  him- 
self was  safe,  might  have  secured  these  poor  babes  of  Bethlehem, 
with  thousands  of  diversions  or  avocations  of  Herod's  purposes, 
or  by  discovering  in  some  safe  manner,  not  unknown  to  the 
Divine  wisdom,  his  own  escape ;  but  it  did  not  so  please  God. 
He  is  Lord  of  his  own  creatures,  and  hath  an  absolute  dominion 


THE    FAVOUR    OF    GOD    IX    CHRIST.  137 

over  our  lives,  and  he  had  an  end  to  serve  npon  these  babes,  and 
an  end  of  justice  upon  Herod ;  and  to  the  children  he  made  such 
comj)ensation,  that  they  had  no  reason  to  complain  that  they  were 
so  soon  made  stars,  when  they  shone  in  their  little  orbs  and  par- 
ticipations of  eternity  ;  for  so  the  sense  of  the  church  has  been, 
that  they  having  died  the  death  of  marts^rs,  though  incapable 
of  making  the  choice,  God  supplied  the  defects  of  their  will  by 
his  own  entertainment  of  the  thing."* 

These  auguries  and  promises  of  favour  to  little  children,  in 
our  blessed  Lord's  birth  and  nursing  age,  are  most  sweetly  and 
richly  confirmed  by  many  passages  and  occasions  of  his  riper 
ministry.  Our  beloved  Master  took  peculiar  pleasure  in  mani- 
festing his  tender  love  for  little  ones,  and  showed  peculiar  dis- 
pleasure at  those  who  doubted  his  willingness  to  receive  them. 

There  are  two  remarkable  instances  of  this  preserved  by  the 
Evangelists ;  the  one  by  Matthew  xviii.  1-14,  by  Mark  ix.  35- 
37,  by  Luke  ix.  46-48  ;  the  other  by  Matthew  xix.  13,  14,  by 
Mark  x.  14,  and  by  Luke  xviii.  15-17.  We  shall  examine  this 
last  first,  as  the  former  presents  us  with  additional  matter  for 
consideration. 

Matt.  xix.  13,  14.  "Then  were  brought  unto  him  little  chil- 
dren, that  he  should  put  his  hands  on  them  and  pray  (that  he 
should  touch  them,  Mark  and  Luke.)  And  the  disciples  rebuked 
them  (those  that  brought  them,  Mark,)  and  when  Jesus  saw  it, 
he  was  much  displeased.  But  Jesus  said,  Suffer  (the)  little  chil- 
dren (to  come  unto  me,  Mark  and  Luke,)  and  forbid  them  not  to 

*  "They  were  too  young  to  fight,  but  not  too  young  to  be  crowned  with  victory," 
—Ciiiirian. 
18 


138  CHILDREN     IN     HEAVEN. 

come  unto  me,  for  of  such  is  the  kingdom  of  heaven  {God,  Mark, 
and  Luke.)  (Verily,  I  say  unto  you,  whosoever  shall  not  receive 
the  kingdom  of  God  as  a  little  child,  he  shall  not  enter  therein, 
Mark.)  And  he  laid  his  hands  on  them  (and  he  took  them  up 
in  his  arms,  put  his  hands  upon  them,  Mark)  and  blessed 
them." 

Who  they  were,  that  brought  these  little  ones  to  Jesus,  we  are 
not  told ;  most  likely  it  was  their  parents,  perhaps,  some  benevo- 
lent lovers  of  children,  who  had  faith  in  his  blessing,  yes,  even 
in  his  touch.  They  were  very  little  children,  for  Luke  uses  the 
same  word,  which  is  applied  to  the  Babe  in  the  manger. 
"  Christ,"  says  Matthew  Henry  in  his  Sermon  on  Mark  x.  16, 
"  came  to  teach,  to  heal,  and  to  bless.  These  little  children 
were  not  brought  to  him  to  be  taught,  for  they  were  too  young; 
nor  to  be  healed,  for  we  are  not  told  that  they  were  sick ;  but  to 
be  blessed,  as  his  laying  on  them  his  hands  signified."  Now  mark 
not  only  the  tenderness  of  Jesus,  but  the  reason  he  assigns  for  it. 
He  takes  them  up  in  his  arms ;  he  lays  their  little  heads  in  his 
holy  bosom ;  he  blesses  them  w^ith  Divine  authority.  He  does 
so  the  more  emphatically,  to  rebuke  those  who  would  have  kept 
them  from  him.  The  Master  himself,  the  Head  of  the  Church, 
the  perfect  Example  of  the  Church,  clasps  little  children  gladly 
tx)  his  heart.  For  what  reason  ?  Because  of  a  tenderness,  natural 
in  so  loving  a  spirit  as  his,  toward  helpless,  smiling  babes  ? 
That  might  well  be.  Or,  that  he  might  recommend  little  chil- 
dren to  the  care  of  his  disciples  ?  This  was  certainly  true.  But 
the  main  reason  he  gives  himself:  "  Of  such  is  the  kingdom  of 
God."     "What  can   this   mean,  for  our  I^ord   was   not  Avont  to 


THE    FAVOUR    OF    GOD    IN    CHRIST.  139 

speak  ambiguously  when  instructing  his  disciples,  but  that  which 
the  words  express  plainly.  "  Of  such  is  the  kingdom  of  God," 
or,  little  children,  as  such,  belong  to  God's  kingdom  by  his 
gracious  determination.  If  they  should  grow  to  years  of  personal 
responsibility,  their  circumstances  would  be  different,  and  personal 
faith  would  be  necessary  for  their  salvation ;  because  then  they 
would  be  no  longer,  except  they  were  regenerate,  such  as  his 
kingdom  is  made  up  of.  But,  if  such  as  were  of  his  kingdom 
died  before  they  sinned  by  rejecting  his  grace,  could  they  be  re- 
jected by  him,  and  sent  away  to  the  kingdom  of  Satan  ? 

We  are  not  to  be  turned  from  this  ground,  by  the  question, 
How  can  they,  who  are  once  of  the  kingdom  of  heaven,  in  af- 
ter years  lose  their  part  of  it  ?  We  take  the  words  of  our  Lord 
as  we  find  them,  nor  shall  any  theological  dilemma  stumble  us 
into  unbelief  of  them.  God  can  reconcile  difficulties  which  we 
cannot. 

We,  however,  can  see  no  difficulty  here.  The  Master  does 
not  speak  of  any  particular  child  or  children,  but  of  the  charac- 
ter and  state  in  which  all  infants  are.  While  they  remain  in 
that  state  and  retain  that  character,  they  are  of  the  kingdom  of 
God ;  when  they  pass  from  the  one  or  lose  the  other,  they  are 
l)eyond  the  condition  which  is  covered  by  the  mercy  of  Christ. 
If  any  of  those  little  ones  live  to  bring  condemnation  on  their 
souls  by  obstinate  impenitence,  it  is  clear  that  they  never  belonged 
to  the  elect  of  grace ;  but,  if  any  die  before  such  personal  sin,  it 
is  equally  clear  that  they  are  safe,  because  our  Lord  says,  "  Of 
such  is  the  kingdom  of  God."  He  is  speaking  of  them  in  the 
circumstances  of  little  children,  not  as  possible  adults ;  just  as 


140  CHILDREN    IN    HEAVEN. 

God,  under  the  Old  Testament,  promised  blessing  to  the  children 
of  circumcision,  thousands  of  whom,  in  riper  years,  lost  the  ad- 
vantage of  the  covenant ;  though  we  doubt  not  that  every  one 
of  them  dying  as  infants  were  admitted  to  glory.  When  God 
determines  the  salvation  of  a  soul,  he  also  determines  the  means 
of  its  preparation  for  heaven ;  and  we  know  nothing  of  his  par- 
ticular purposes  but  by  their  results  in  personal  character.  The 
dying  infant  has  the  character  to  which  heaven  is  promised. 

It  may  be  said  in  reply,  that  the  Saviour  is  speakmg  of  the 
character,  which  his  disciples  should  cultivate,  if  they  would 
enter  the  kingdom  of  heaven ;  not  of  the  little  children  them- 
selves. We  admit  the  first ;  we  deny  the  second.  Little  chil- 
dren are  set  before  us  as  types,  examples  of  that  temper  to  which 
only  the  kingdom  of  God  is  promised ;  but  what  right  has  any 
one  to  say,  that  the  Master  did  not  mean  the  little  children 
themselves,  when  he  directly  points  to  them  ?  Besides,  if  it  be 
true  that  all,  who  become  as  little  children,  are  saved,  is  not  the 
inference  irresistible,  that  those,  whom  they  become  like,  are 
saved  also,  when  they  go  as  little  children  before  God  ?  Why 
this  painful  logic  to  shut  out  from  heaven  those  who  die  in  the 
very  arms  of  Christ  ?  We  should  tremble  to  adopt  it,  lest  we 
should  come  under  the  rebuke  of  those  who  would  have  forbid- 
den his  little  ones  to  come  unto  him.  We  can  understand  cau- 
tion in  so  rendering  Scriptures,  that  we  give  no  encouragement 
to  those  who  wilfully  are  impenitent ;  but  what  mischief  can  re- 
sult from  a  belief,  that  He,  who  when  on  earth  blessed  little  chil- 
dren, blesses  them  eternally  when  as  little  children  they  go  to 
him  in  heaven  ?     Let  us  rather,  my  reader,  rejoice  in  a  faith 


THE    FAVOUR    OF    GOD    IN    CHRIST.  141 

which  gives  to  the  Almighty,  just  and  most  merciful  Saviour, 
the  glory  of  so  vast  a  salvation. 

The  other  j)assage  of  which  we  spoke,  occurs  in  Matthew 
18th,  from  the  first  to  the  end  of  the  fourteenth  verse:  "At  the 
same  time  came  the  disciples  unto  Jesus,  saying,  Who  is  the 
greatest  in  the  kingdom  of  heaven?  And  Jesus  called  a  little 
child  unto  him,  and  set  him  in  the  midst  of  them;  and  said. 
Verily,  I  say  unto  you.  Except  ye  be  converted  and  become  as 
little  children,  ye  shall  not  enter  into  the  kingdom  of  heaven. 
Whosoever,  therefore,  shall  humble  himself  as  this  little  child, 
the  same  is  greatest  in  the  kingdom  of  heaven.  And  whoso 
shall  receive  one  such  little  child  in  my  name,  receiveth  me. 
But  whoso  shall  offend  one  of  these  little  ones,  which  believe  in 
me,  it  were  better  for  him  that  a  millstone  were  hanged  about 
his  neck,  and  that  he  were  drowned  in  the  depth  of  the  sea. 
.  .  .  .  Take  heed  that  ye  despise  not  one  of  these  little 
ones,  for  I  say  unto  you,  that  in  heaven  their  angels  do  alway 
behold  the  face  of  my  Father  which  is  in  heaven.  For  the  Son 
of  man  is  come  to  seek  and  to  save  that  which  was  lost.  How 
think  ye?  If  a  man  have  an  hundred  sheep,  and  one  of  them 
be  gone  astray,  doth  he  not  leave  the  ninety  and  nine  and  goetli 
into  the  mountains,  and  seeketh  that  which  is  gone  astray?  And 
if  so  be  that  he  find  it,  verily  I  say  unto  you,  he  rejoiceth  more 
of  that  sheep  than  of  the  ninety  and  nine  that  went  not  astray. 
Even  so  it  is  not  the  will  of  your  Father  which  is  in  heaven, 
that  one  of  these  little  ones  should  perish."  (Compare  Mark 
ix.  33  to  the  end,  and  Luke  ix.  46 — 48.) 

Our  Lord  here  answers  the  question  of  the  Twelve,  Who  is 


142  CHILDREN     IN     HEAVEN. 

the  greatest  in  the  kingdom  of  heaven?  by  showing  them  the 
character  of  a  true  Christian  disciple,  and  the  great  regard  he  has 
for  all  those  who  bear  such  a  character.  To  do  this,  he  takes  for 
his  text  a  little  child  ;  not  any  particular  child,  but  the  one  upon 
whom  his  eye  chanced  to  fall.  He  "  calls  "  the  little  one  to  him ; 
from  which,  and  the  term  in  the  original,  we  may  suppose  that  it 
was  a  "  child  "  able  to  walk,  though  "  little."  He  sets  him  in 
the  midst  of  the  listening  circle,  and  says  :  "  Verily  I  say  unto 
you.  Except  ye  be  converted  and  become  as  little  children,  ye  shall 
not  enter  into  the  kingdom  of  heaven.  Whosoever,  therefore, 
shall  humble  himself  as  this  little  child,  the  same  is  greatest  in 
the  kingdom  of  heaven."  Childhood  is  the  emblem  of  Chris- 
tianity. Child-likeness  is  Christian  character ;  and  he  who  is 
most  like  a  little  child  is  greatest  in  his  kingdom,  the  most  ad- 
vanced and  honoured  disciple,  because  his  "conversion"  from 
a  contrary  spirit  is  the  most  thorough. 

Having  stated  the  character  which  he  most  approves,  he  goes 
on  Lo  show  his  extreme  regard  for  all  who  possess  it :  "  Whoso 
shall  receive  one  such  little  child  in  my  name  receiveth  me." 
This  verse  applies  equally  to  little  children  and  child-like  disciples. 
In  the  next  he  speaks  of  faith,  which  shows  that  he  is  now  re- 
ferring more  particularly  to  the  true  disciple :  "  Whosoever 
shall  offend  one  of  these  little  ones,  ivJiich  believe  in  me,  it  were 
better  that  a  millstone  were  hanged  about  his  neck,  and  that  he 
were  drowned  in  the  depths  of  the  sea."  Yet  his  regard  for 
those,  to  whom  he  compares  the  docile,  teachable,  meek-minded 
believer,  cannot  be  less  than  for  the  believer  himself.  He  takes 
the  believer's  part,  because  the  believer  is  like  a  little  child.    He 


THE    FAVOUR    OF    GOD    IN    CHRIST.  143 

gives  several  arguments,  why  all  such  little  children  and  child- 
like believers  should  receive  from  us  this  kind  and  considerate 
treatment. 

(1.)  They  are  identified  with  himself.  "Whoso  receivcth 
one  such  little  child  in  my  name,  receiveth  me."  They  are 
united  to  him ;  he  sympathizes  with  them  ;  they  aie  his  own. 

(2.)  They  are  under  the  care  of  his  angels.  "  Take  heed,  how 
ye  despise  one  of  these  little  ones ;  for  in  heaven  their  angels  do 
always  behold  the  face  of  my  Father  which  is  in  heaven.'' 
Christ  is  the  Lord  of  angels,  Jehovah  of  Hosts ;  and  he  brings 
all  his  glorious  retinue  to  serve  him  in  his  office  of  Saviour ;  as 
the  author  of  the  Epistle  to  the  Hebrews  says  of  the  angels : 
"  Are  they  not  all  ministering  spirits  sent  forth  to  minister  for 
them  who  shall  be  heirs  of  salvation  ?"  (Heb.  i.  14).  In  the 
Old  Testament,  angels  were  declared  to  be  guardians  of  God's 
people  (Ps.  xci.  11,  12).  Here  our  blessed  Master  confirms  the 
truth.  His  angels  are  his  people's  angels,  standing  ready  before 
God  to  be  sent  upon  any  mission  that  concerns  the  welfare  of  his 
little  ones :  little  children  and  child-like  believers.  Some  find 
here  the  doctrine  of  particular  guardian  angels ;  whether  that  be 
true  or  not  we  are  unprepared  to  say  ;  but,  certainly,  all  Christ's 
people  are  under  the  guardianship  of  Christ's  angels^  There  is 
not  one  of  all  the  radiant  winged  spirits  who  do  God's  will  in 
providence,  that  is  not  ready  to  be  a  servant  of  those  whom  Je- 
sus numbers  among  his  little  ones. 

(3.)  They  are  peculiarly  dear  to  him,  as  Saviour  of  the  lost 
(11-13) ;  which  he  illustrates  by  an  instance  of  a  good  shc2)liord 
seeldng  after  a  lost  one  from  his  flock,  and  bringing  it  back  with 


144  CHILD  Pt  EN     IN     HEAVEN. 

joy.  So  docs  he  love  his  "  little  ones"  for  the  very  pains  it  cost 
him  to  win  them  from  ruin ;  and  they  are  recommended  to  our 
love  by  the  greatness  of  his  love  towards  them  and  us. 

(4.)  The  gracious  will  of  our  heavenly  Father  concerning 
them  (14th  verse) :  "  Even  so  it  is  not  the  will  of  your  Father 
^vhich  is  in  heaven,  that  one  of  these  little  ones  should  perish." 
The  heavenly  Father  delights  in  the  salvation  of  his  little  ones ; 
and,  therefore,  they  should  be  precious  in  our  sight.  Their 
Father  is  our  Father ;  and  he  wlio  is  willing  to  save  us  is  will- 
ing to  save  them.  That  child-like  believers  are  included  by  the 
term  "  little  ones,"  may  be  cheerfully  admitted ;  but  the  refer- 
ence is  most  direct  to  little  children ;  for  it  is  not  "  swc/i  little 
ones,"  but  "  these  little  ones."  The  Master  is  not  speaking  of 
the  Twelve,  but  to  them.  He  is  answering  their  question ;  and 
they  are  encouraged  to  trust  in  their  heavenly  Father's  care,  only 
so  far  as  they  were  converted  to  be  like  little  children.  If  it  be 
our  heavenly  Father's  will,  that  none  Avho  are  like  little  children 
should  perish  ;  how  can  it  be,  that  little  children,  who  are  set 
before  them  as  emblems  of  simplicity  and  innocence,  patterns 
for  imitation,  standards  of  character,  should  perish  ?  It  is  diffi- 
cult to  understand,  how  any  sincere  reader  can  hesitate  about 
such  a  plain  inference.  The  words  of  our  Lord  do  not  render 
their  salvation  certain,  if  they  should  come  to  years  of  intelli- 
gence. He  LS  speaking  of  little  children,  and  of  those  like  little 
children  in  character.  If  the  former  should  pass  beyond  the 
condition  of  little  children,  without  possessing  a  child-like  char- 
acter, they  would  then  be  beyond  the  ground  covered  by  this 
gracious  text ;  but  if  they  died  as  little  children,  in  either  sense, 


THE    FAVOUR    OF     GOD    IN    CHRIST.  145 

it  is  not  the  will  of  our  heavenly  Father  that  they  should  perish. 
They  are  within  the  promise  and  safe.  Those  whom  the  ever- 
merciful  Jesus  unites  with  himself;  whom  he  commends  in  his 
name  to  the  tenderness  of  his  people ;  whom  he  commits  to  the 
guardianship  of  holy  angels ;  and  of  whom  it  is  the  will  of  his 
Father,  our  Father  and  their  Father,  that  not  one  should  per- 
ish ;  must,  dying  in  a  state  so  fenced  in,  and  made  holy  by  his 
Saviour-sympathy,  go  to  be  among  the  blessed  in  that  heaven, 
to  the  kingdom  of  which  he  has  declared  they  belong,  even  while 
on  earth. 

These  inferences  are  confirmed  by  our  blessed  I^ord's  rebuke 
to  the  chief  priests  and  scribes,  w^hen  they  were  sore  displeased 
at  the  hosannasof  the  children  in  the  temple  (Matt.  xxi.  15, 16): 
"  Jesus  said  unto  them.  Yea,  have  ye  "never  read :  Out  of  the 
mouth  of  babes  and  sucklings,  thou  hast  perfected  praise?" 
This  Scripture  is  taken  from  the  second  verse  of  the  eighth 
Psalm,  where  we  read  :  "  Out  of  the  mouth  of  babes  and  suck- 
Ihigs,  hast  thou  ordained  strength,  because  of  thine  enemies ;  that 
thou  mightest  still  the  enemy  and  the  avenger."  Whatever  other 
meaning  or  reference  these  words  of  prophecy  may  have,  the  use 
which  our  Master  makes  of  them,  demonstrates  an  intention  on 
the  part  of  God,  to  derive  even  from  babes  and  sucklings,  a 
])raise  magnifying  his  grace  by  Jesus  Christ  over  all  the  power, 
and  arts,  and  cavils  of  his  and  our  enemies.  Out  of  the  mouth 
of  such  little  ones  he  can  ordain  strength  ;  his  gracious  influences 
can  reach  their  young  hearts,  and  throughout  eternity,  their 
hosannas,  which  were  so  M^elcome  to  him  in  the  temple  on  earth, 
shall  swell  his  triumphs  in  the  temple  above.     Neither  the  little 

19 


146  CHILDREN    IN    HEAVEN. 

one,  nor  the  suckling  babe,  shall  be  left  in  the  powei  of  the 
enemy.  The  strength  of  him,  who  came  as  a  "  tender  plant " 
(Is.  liii.  2),  (or,  as  the  Septuagint  translates,  a  tender  or  sucking 
child,*)  will  redeem  out  of  the  power  of  the  avenger,  the  world 
of  infancy  ;  their  souls  shall  be  his  trophies  of  victory,  and  their 
immortal  hosannas  celebrate  his  complete  conquest  over  him  that 
had  the  power  of  death  (Heb.  ii.  14). 

No,  thou  gentle,  compassionate  Saviour,  who  wert  once  the 
Babe  of  Bethlehem,  and  now  upon  thy  throne,  art  worshipped 
ns  the  Holy  Child  Jesus  (Acts  iv.  27),  it  is  not  thy  will  that  any 
little  one  shall  perish  !  The  arms  which  were  open  to  them  on 
earth,  will  receive  them  in  heaven.  They  shall  lie  there  in  that 
holy  bosom,  to  which  they  were  clasped  here.  Death  is  thy 
ministering  angel,  to  bear  them  up  to  thee.  Sweet,  excelling 
heaven's  ordinary  praise,  to  thy  ear  must  be  the  voices  of  their 
countless  multitudes,  as  they  bless  thee  in  the  song  of  the  re- 
deemed, thee  once  a  Babe  like  them,  and  now  their  Elder 
Brother ! 

Dry  your  tears,  bereaved  parents,  or  turn  them  into  floods  of 
joy.  The  Voice  that  called  them  away,  was  his  M'ho  said : 
They  belong  to  my  kingdom.  The  hand  that  took  them  from 
you,  was  his,  who  once  laid  his  benediction  on  the  infant's  head. 
He  has  set  them  in  the  midst  of  his  admiring  disciples  above. 
They  are  now  the  darling  little  ones  of  their  heavenly  Father's 
house.  The  angels,  who  watched  over  their  cradle  beds,  are  now 
rejoicing  over  their  immortal  beauty,  as  lambs  safely  folded  where 

*  See  Joseph  Mode's  Sermon  on  Psalm  viii.  2. 


THE    FAVOUR    OF    GOD    IN    CHRIST.  147 

the  spoiler  can  never  come.  Heed  them  not,  who  would  bid  you 
doubt  j  point  them  to  the  recorded  censure  of  the  Master,  dis- 
pleased at  so  unmerciful  an  unbelief.  "  Of  such  is  the  kingdom 
of  heaven."  "  Out  of  the  mouth  of"  your  "  babe,"  Christ's 
"  praise"  is  "  perfected  "  in  the  temple  on  high  I 


MRS.  M.  ST.  LEON  LOUD. 

"  Weepest  thou,  pale  Hindoo  mother, 
By  the  Ganges  bending  low? 

Canst  thou  not  thy  feelings  smother  .''- 
Brightly  doth  the  river  flow. 

Where  thy  children  calmly  sleep, 

Buried  in  its  waters  deep ; 

And  above,  the  smiling  skies 

Look  upon  thy  sacrifice." 

"  Tell  me  not  of  bright  waves  flowing. 
They  but  mock  my  bosom's  care ; 
Tell  me  not  of  sunlight  glowing — 

All  within  is  dark  despair ; 
For  I've  heard  of  one  whose  eye 
Frowns  upon  me  from  the  sky. 
Where  can  help  be  found  for  me — 
Christian!  whither  shall  I  flee?" 

"To  the  cross!  behold,  the  Saviour 
Dies  to  save  thee,  calls  thee  home! 

148 


THE    HINDOO    MOTHER.  149 

Listen  to  these  words  of  favour — 
'  Come,  ye  heavy-laden,  come !' 
Hindoo  mother,  weep  no  more ! 
Lo !  to  this  benighted  shore 
Jesus'  heralds  gladly  fly, 
To  proclaim  salvation  nigh." 

"  To  your  God  my  heart  is  given. 

He  hath  heard  the  Hindoo's  prayer; 
But  my  babes !  in  that  bright  heaven, 
Christian,  shall  I  meet  them  there?" 
"God's  deep  purpose  who  can  know — 
Faith  and  hope  must  soothe  thy  woe, 
For  upon  that  blissful  shore 
Mercy  reigns  for  evermore." 


MARGARET  JUNRIN. 

There  was  an  idle  lyre 

'Mid  heaven's  choral  band, 
A  messenger  was  summoned 

To  hear  his  Lord's  command — 
That  from  among  earth's  children 

Some  favoured  one  he'd  bring, 
Who  had  a  skilful  finger 

To  sweep  the  golden  string. 

Oh !  high  and  holy  honour  I 

"Whose  shall  the  glory  be, 
To  make  a  music  fitting 

The  ear  of  Deity  ? 
What  mighty  minstrel  laurelled 

With  wreaths  which  fame  has  given. 
Shall  now  be  counted  worthy 

To  join  the  ranks  of  heaven  ? 

No  master-mind  whose  spirit 
Might  lift  itself  to  hymn 

150 


THE    IDLE    LYRE.  151 

The  praise  of  the  Eternal 

With  burning  seraphim, — 
Nor  one  whose  life  had  lingered, 

Till  age  had  quenched  its  fire, 
Is  from  earth's  myriads  chosen 

To  touch  that  silent  lyre. 

A  little  child  was  playing 

Beside  his  mother's  knee, 
Unconscious  of  the  honour 

That  was  his  destiny. 
The  angel  bent  above  him, 

And  breathed  the  low  command, 
And  ere  another  morning 

The  lyre  was  in  his  hand. 

Ah !  is  the  mother  weeping 

Because  her  baby  boy 
Is  tasting  purer  pleasure 

And  feeling  holier  joy. 
Than  she  could  ever  yield  him 

With  her  most  soothing  tone. 
While  yet  the  darling's  bosom 

Was  pillowed  on  her  own  ? 

We  know  that  she  will  miss  him — 

Unworn  his  garments  lie. 
And  every  way  she  turneth 

There's  something  meets  her  eye 


152  CHILDREN    IN    HEAVEN. 

That  marl«  his  painful  absence, 
And  from  his  vacant  bed, 

Like  Rachel  in  her  sorrow, 
She  turns  uncomforted. 

Mourns  she  that  he  is  taken 

Where  every  pain  is  o'er  ? 
Where  not  a  human  passion 

Shall  mar  his  quiet  more? 
Oh !  could  she  hear  the  sweetness 

Of  his  angelic  strain, 
Not  life's  best  gifts  would  tempt  her 

To  call  him  back  again  ! 

Though  transient  was  his  visit 

To  this  bleak  world  of  ours, 
The  pleasant  buds  of  promise 

Grave  pledge  of  early  flowers. 
Whose  perfect  bloom  we  only 

Can  see  when  it  is  given 
To  join,  as  kindred  spirits. 

The  choristry  of  heaven  ! 


ipitap^  on  an  Snfant. 


CHARLES  WESLEY. 

Within  this  tomb  an  infant  lies, 

To  earth  whose  body  lent, 
Hereafter  shall  more  glorious  rise. 

But  not  more  innocent. 

When  the  archangel's  trump  shall  blow 

And  souls  to  bodies  join, 
What  crowds  shall  wish  their  lives  below 

Had  been  as  short  as  thine! 

20  153 


fi|MIbrcn  in  Seaben. 

Around  the  throne  of  God  in  heaven, 

Thousands  of  children  stand ; 
Children,  whose  sins  are  all  forgiven ; 

A  holy,  happy  band. 

Singing  glory,  glory,  glory  be  to  God  on  high. 

In  flowing  robes  of  spotless  white 

See  every  one  arrayed : 
Dwelling  in  everlasting  light, 

And  joys  that  never  fade. 

Singing  glory,  glory,  glory  be  to  God  on  high. 

AVhat  brought  them  to  that  world  above? 

That  heaven  so  bright  and  fair, 
AVhere  all  is  peace,  and  joy,  and  love; — 

How  came  those  children  there? 
Singing  glory,  &c. 

Because  the  Saviour  shed  his  blood. 

To  wash  away  their  sin; 
Bathed  in  that  pure  and  precious  flood, 

Behold  them  white  and  clean ! 
Singing  glory,  &c. 

154 


CHILDREN    IN    HEAVEN.  155 

On  earth  they  sought  the  Saviour's  grace, 

On  earth  they  loved  his  name; 
So  now  they  see  his  blessed  face, 

And  stand  before  the  Lamb, 
Singing  glory,  &c. 


BOY. 

My  mother,  my  mother,  O  let  me  depart ! 

Your  tears  and  your  pleadings  are  swords  to  my  heart. 

I  hear  gentle  voices,  that  chide  my  delay; 

I  see  lovely  visions  that  woo  me  away. 

My  prison  is  broken,  my  trials  are  o'er ! 

O  mother,  my  mother,  detain  me  no  more ! 

MOTHEE. 

And  will  you  then  leave  us,  my  brightest,  my  best? 
And  will  you  run  nestling  no  more  to  my  breast? 
The  summer  is  coming  to  sky  and  to  bower; 
The  tree  that  you  planted  will  soon  be  in  flower; 
You  loved  the  soft  season  of  song  and  of  bloom ; 
O,  shall  it  return,  and  find  you  in  the  tomb? 

BOY. 

Yes,  mother,  I  loved  in  the  sunshine  to  play, 
And  talk  with  the  birds  and  blossoms  all  day; 

156 


THE    MOTHER    AND    HER    DYING    BOY.  157 

But  sweeter  the  songs  of  the  spirits  on  high, 
And  brighter  the  glories  round  God  in  the  sky : 
I  see  them !    I  hear  them !   they  pull  at  my  heart ! 
My  mother,  my  mother,  O  let  me  depart! 

MOTHER. 

0  do  not  desert  us !     Our  hearts  will  be  drear. 
Our  home  will  be  lonely,  when  you  are  not  here. 
Your  brother  will  sigh  'mid  his  playthings,  and  say, 

1  wonder  dear  William  so  long  can  delay : 

That  foot  like  the  wild  wind,  that  glance  like  a  star, 
O  what  will  this  world  be,  when  they  are  afar? 

BOY. 

This  world,  dearest  mother!     O  live  not  for  this; 
No,  press  on  with  me  to  the  fulness  of  bliss ! 
And,  trust  me,  whatever  bright  fields  I  may  roam. 
My  heart  will  not  wander  from  you  and  from  home. 
Believe  me  still  near  you  on  pinions  of  love ; 
Expect  me  to  hail  you  when  soaring  above. 

MOTHER. 

Well,  go,  my  beloved !     The  conflict  is  o'er ; 
My  pleas  are  all  selfish ;    I  urge  them  no  more. 
Why  chain  your  bright  spirit  down  here  to  the  clod, 
So  thirsting  for  freedom,  so  ripe  for  its  God? 
Farewell,  then !    farewell,  till  we  meet  at  the  Throne, 
Whei-e  lovf;  fears  no  partings,  and  tears  are  unknown ! 


158  CHILDREN    IN    HEAVEN. 

BOY. 

0  glory !    O  glory  !    what  music !    what  light ! 
What  wonders  break  in  on  my  heart,  on  my  sight ! 

1  come,  blessed  spirits !    I  hear  you  from  high ; 
O  frail,  faithless  nature,  can  this  be  to  die  ? 

So  near !    what,  so  near  to  my  Saviour  and  King  ? 
O  help  me,  ye  angels,  his  glories  to  sing! 


CUNNINGHAM. 

Yes,  thou  art  fled,  and  saints  a  welcome  sing; 
Thine  infant  spirit  soars  on  angel  wing; 
Our  dark  affection  might  have  hoped  thy  stay, — 
The  voice  of  God  has  called  the  child  away. 
Like  Samuel  early  in  the  temple  found — 
Sweet  rose  of  Sharon,  plant  of  holy  ground, 
Oh  more  than  Samuel  blessed,  to  thee  is  given, 
The  God  he  served  on  earth  to  serve  in  heaven. 

159 


MRS.  HEMANS. 

"  Oh  !  call  my  brother  back  to  me, 
I  cannot  play  alone, 
The  summer  comes  with  flower  and  bee, — 
"Where  is  my  brother  gone? 

*'  The  butterfly  is  glancing  bright 
Across  the  sunbeam's  track  ; 
I  care  not  now  to  chase  its  flight — 
Oh  !  call  my  brother  back ! 

*'■  The  flowers  run  wild — the  flowers  we  sowed 
Around  our  garden-tree ; 
Our  vine  is  drooping  with  its  load — 
Oh !  call  him  back  to  me !" 

"  He  would  not  hear  thy  voice,  fair  child  ! 
He  may  not  come  to  thee  ; 
The  face  that  once  like  spring-time  smiled, 
On  earth  no  more  thou'lt  see. 

"  A  rose's  brief,  bright  light  of  joy. 
Such  unto  him  was  given ; 

160 


THE    CHILD'S    FIRST     GRIEF.  161 

Go !  thou  must  play  alone,  my  boy ! 
Thy  ])rother  is  in  heaven." 

"  And  has  he  left  his  birds  and  flowers  ? 
And  must  I  call  in  vain? 
And  through  the  long,  long  summer  hours, 
Will  he  not  come  again  ? 

"And  by  the  brook,  and  in  the  glade. 

Are  all  our  wanderings  o'er  ? — 

Oh !  while  my  brother  with  me  played, 

Would  I  had  loved  him  more !" 
21 


Sttfajrts    in    pcabeit. 


JAMES  M.  MACDONALD,  D.D.* 

Infants  die  to  live.  As  stars,  which  glitter  for  a  brief 
moment,  through  the  darkness  of  the  night,  but  when  we  look 
again  are  invisible ;  not  because  they  have  fallen  from 
heaven,  but  because  they  have  melted  away  into  the  liglit 
of  a  cloudless  morning ;  so  dying  infants  are  taken  to  be 
planted  in  the  diadem  of  the  Sun  of  righteousness.  In  conver- 
sation with  an  eminent  living  divine,t  the  pleasing  thought  was 
suggested  by  him,  that  those  who  are  taken  to  heaven  in  infancy 
may  always  remain  children ;  not  such  weak,  suffering,  and  de- 
pendent creatures,  as  they  were  on  earth,  but  bright  cherubs, 
perfect  children  ; — perfect  in  beauty  and  in  purity.  The  Scrip- 
tures speak  expressly  of  the  "  small  and  great,"|  both  ap- 
pearing together  in  eternity,  before  God.  It  was  to  the  small 
as  well  as  to  the  great,  that  a  voice  came  out  of  the  throne, 
saying,  "  Praise  our  God  ;"  and  they  responded  when  the  voice 
of  a  great  multitude  was  heard,  "  as  the  voice  of  many  waters, 
and  as  the  voice  of  mighty  thunderings,  saying.  Alleluia :  for 
tlie  Lord  God  omnipotent  reigneth."  The  hope  is  not  altogether 
without  warrant,  therefore,  that  Christians  who  have  lost  infant 

*  From  "  My  Father's  House,"  a  truly  delightful  and  instructive  book. 

j"  Rev.  Di-.  Gardiner  Spring.  J  Rev.  xix.  5;  xx.  12. 

162 


INFANTS     IN    HEAVEN.  163 

children  shall  never  be  without  tliem — that  their  death  was  in- 
deed a  "  kindly  harshness,  which  blessed  them  into  an  eternal 
image  of  youth  and  beauty."  What  earthly  home  is  not  made 
happier  by  the  presence  of  little  children,  with  all  their  infirm- 
ities, the  cares  they  impose,  and  the  anxieties  they  awaken  ? 
Without  them  a  home  may  be  filled  with  much  that  is  graceful 
and  refined ;  like  a  garden  it  may  have  many  fine  walks  and 
arliours,  but  it  is  a  garden  without  flowers.  What  then  will  our 
"  Father's  House"  in  heaven  be,  filled  with  those  who  are  infants, 
without  weakness  and  without  wants,  and  clothed  upon  with  all 
the  beauty  and  loveliness  of  angels  ;  and  who,  like  murmuring 
ripples,  which  serve  to  swell  the  voice  of  many  waters,  when 
they  break  upon  the  shore,  shall  bear  their  humble  part  in 
heaven's  immortal  song?  As,  of  that  great  multitude,  which  no 
man  can  number,  who  already  have  gone  from  earth  to  heaven, 
they  form  the  vast  majority,  it  is  obvious  that  we  fail  to  do  jus- 
tice to  the  subject,  if  we  ignore  so  iraj)ortant  an  element  in  the 
redeemed  society. 

The  rule  which  an  Apostle  lays  down*  as  that  by  which  God 
will  be  governed  in  judging  the  heathen  world,  at  the  last  day, 
which  limits  doom  to  such  as  actually  have  sinned,  "  ought  to  be 
considered,"  says  Dr.  Russel,f  "  in  connexion  with  the  reasoning 
in  chap,  v,  which  must  be  consistent  with  it  in  all  its  parts. 
And  as  the  ground  of  condemnation  now  in  question,  cannot 
apply  to  infants,  the  reasoning  in  respect  to  it,  so  far  from  mili- 
tating against  the  salvation  of  such,  serves  to  establish  it,  because 
it  supposes  the  abuse  of  at  least  a  measure  of  light,  and  the 

*  Bom.  ii.  12,  16.  f  Essay  on  Infant  Salvation,  chap.  3. 


164  CHILDREN    IN    HEAVEN. 

imitation  of  the  sin  of  Adam  by  actual  transgression.  If  such, 
as  is  evident,  be  the  declared  ground  of  the  condemnation  of 
adults,  and  if  not  a  word  is  said  of  any  ground  on  which  chil- 
dren dying  in  infancy  shall  be  finally  condemned,  does  it  not  fol- 
low that  all  of  them  are  saved  ? 

"  It  is  obviously  taught  by  the  apostle,  that  the  glory  of  the 
works  of  Christ  is  more  illustriously  displayed  in  overcoming 
the  accumulated  effects  of  the  many  personal  offences  of  actual 
transgressors,  than  in  simply  overcoming  those  of  the  single  of- 
fence of  Adam,  and  this  accounts  for  his  passing  from  the  latter 
display  of  glory  to  the  former.  He  takes  for  granted  the  re- 
demption of  those  who  had  '  not  sinned  after  the  similitude  of 
Adam's  transgression,'  when  reasoning  on  the  transcendent 
grandeur  of  the  plan  of  mercy,  as  embracing  the  remission  of 
'  the  many  offences'  of  actual  transgressors.  On  the  full  gloiy 
of  the  plan,  as  thus  most  impressively  exhibited,  he  delighted 
to  dwell,  and  what  he  says  of  the  circumstances  of  infants,  is 
introduced  chiefly  for  the  sake  of  illustrating  this  higher  mani- 
festation of  '  the  exceeding  riches'  of  divine  grace.  In  arguing 
for  the  greater,  he  takes  for  granted  the  less.  He  cannot  but  be 
considered  as  teaching  us,  that  the  scheme  of  redemption  shields 
from  the  penal  consequences  of  Adam's  sin,  separately  viewed, 
or  where  they  are  not  connected  with  actual  sin  and  final  im- 
penitence, seeing  he  maintains  that  its  object  extends,  not  to  this 
only,  but  much  farther. 

"  When  he  reasons  that  if  the  forfeiture  was  incurred  by  one 
offence,  we  have  much  more  reason  to  expect  that  the  blessings  of 
redemption  will  be  communicated  on  the  principle  of  representa- 


INFANTS    IN    HEAVEN.  165 

tion,  or  througli  the  work  of  Christ  as  a  public  head,  and  that 
those  blessings  shall  far  exceed  the  damage  sustained  by  the  fall 
of  the  first  Adam,  his  reasoning  proceeds  on  the  principle  that 
God  delighteth  in  mercy,  and  is  slow  to  anger,  and  reluctant  to 
judgment.  It  also  supposes  that  justice,  in  the  infliction  of  pun- 
ishment, is  limited  to  desert,  while  grace,  when  not  obstructed  in 
its  exercise  by  the  claims  of  offended  righteousness,  can  be  im- 
parted in  the  most  unlimited  abundance,  according  to  the  good 
pleasure  of  the  Divine  will.  It  seems,  then,  necessarily  to  follow, 
that,  under  the  present  dispensation,  no  exclusion  occurs,  where 
nothing  additional  to  the  sin  of  Adam  has  taken  place,  since  all 
obstructions  in  the  way  of  the  honourable  exercise  of  mercy  and- 
grace  have  been  completely  removed  by  the  infinitely  precious 
sacrifice  of  Christ.  This  conclusion  is  but  the  natural  result  of 
the  foregoing  premises,  and  it,  of  course,  involves  the  salvation 
of  all  who  have  not  been  guilty  of  actual  transgression. 

"  It  may  here  be  farther  remarked,  that  the  concern  of  infants 
in  the  sin  of  Adam  is  of  a  relative  nature,  and  therefore  cannot 
be  divided  among  them,  so  as  that  one  may  have  this  share  of 
it,  and  another  that ;  as  in  the  case,  when  a  number  have  shared 
in  the  doing  of  a  thing,  for  the  whole  of  relative  blame  must  be 
attached  to  every  individual  of  the  parties  concerned  in  it.  Now 
it  will  be  granted  that  the  guilt  of  this  sin  was  expiated  by 
Christ ;  for,  otherwise,  Adam  could  not  have  been  saved,  and 
not  a  single  infant  could  have  been  delivered  from  its  effects  on^ 
his  posterity ;  so  that  according  to  this  principle,  the  universal 
perdition  of  infants  must  be  maintained ;  a  thing  which  none 
will  admit  as  possible.'' 


166  CHILDREN    IN    HEAVEN. 

If  without  personal  participation  in  the  sin  of  Adam,  all  men 
are  subject  to  death,  may  we  not  hope  that  without  personal  ac- 
ceptance of  the  righteousness  of  Christ,  all  who  die  in  infancy 
are  saved?"*  The  doctrine  of  the  imputation  of  Adam's  sin  to 
the  whole  of  his  posterity,  does  not  mean  that  the  moral  turpi- 
tude of  Adam's  sin  was  transferred  to  his  posterity ;  that  his  act 
in  some  mysterious  manner  was  their  act,  or  that  his  sin  was 
personally  that  of  all  men ;  nor  does  it  mean  that  there  is  a  de- 
pravation of  soul,  or  the  infusion  of  any  positive  evil ;  it  sim- 
ply means  that  there  is  such  a  connection  between  Adam,  as  a 
natural  and  federal  head,  and  his  descendants,  that  his  disobedi- 
ence is  the  cause  of  their  loss  of  original  righteousness,  whence 
arises  an  actual  and  universal  tendency  to  sin,  and  is  the  ground 
of  their  subjection  to  penal  evils.  It  is  no  part  of  the  Scriptiu'e 
doctrine  of  imputation,  that  eternal  death  is  ever  the  doom  of 
any,  merely  on  account  of  Adam's  offence,  without  respect  to 
their  own  depravity  of  heart,  or  actual  transgressions  of  the  law 
of  God.f  Men  perish  on  account  of  their  personal  offences, 
and  because  they  refuse  to  avail  themselves  of  proffered  deliver- 
ance from  that  state  of  corruption  and  condemnation,  into  which 
they  are  brought  by  the  first  Adam.  Such,  clearly,  is  the  teach- 
ing of  the  great  Apostle,  in  that  memorable  passage,  contained 
in  the  fifth  chapter  of  Romans,  from  the  twelfth  verse  to  the 
end.  He  is  establishing  the  doctrine,  in  this  passage,  that  sin- 
ners are  justified  by  tlie  righteousness  of  one,  that  is,  Jesus 
Christ,  just  as  they  are  condemned  by  the  sin  of  one,  that  is,  of 
Adam.     He  shows  that  such  was  the  effect  of  Adam's  sin,  in 

*  Dr.  Hodge  on  Rom.  v.  12,  21.     Rom.  v.        fSee  Hodge.     Idem.  Doct.  2. 


INFANTS    IN    HEAVEN.  167 

bringing  death  upon  his  posterity,  that  it  reigns  even  over 
young  infants  that  liad  not  been  guilty  of  actual  transgression. 
Death  reigns  over  them,  not  only  because  they  are  subject  to 
mortality,  but  because  every  child  is  born  in  spiritual  death,  has 
a  corrupt  nature,  brings  into  the  world  with  him  a  native  sin- 
fulness of  character,  which,  without  regeneration,  will  belong 
to  him  for  ever. 

The  Apostle  farther  teaches — and  it  is  at  this  point  that  the 
gospel  sheds  so  glorious  a  light,  "  discloses  the  fall  slumbering 
under  the  sunbeams  of  the  recovery,  and  the  wrecks  of  sin  pre- 
senting foretokens  of  the  triumphs  of  grace,  and,  on  the  withered 
stem  of  humanity,  revealing  buds  of  approaching  beauty,  and 
blossom  and  fruit,"* — the  gospel,  I  say,  teaches  that  the  bless- 
ings purchased  by  the  death  of  Christ  far  exceed  the  evils  in- 
curred by  Adam's  sin.  If  Christ  had  done  no  more  than  to  re- 
move the  sentence  which  was  passed  upon  mankind  because  of 
Adam's  sin,  the  gospel  would  open  no  door  for  the  salvation  of 
those  who  are  guilty  of  actual  transgressions  ;  but  the  door  would 
be  open  wide,  for  the  salvation  of  our  dying  infants ;  for  not 
having  sinned  actually,  the  sentence  passed  upon  the  race  on  ac- 
count of  Adam's  sin,  is  the  only  sentence  that  rests  upon  them. 
But  the  propitiation  of  Christ  is  sufficient  to  save  actual  trans- 
gressors— publicans,  persecutors,  and  malefactors ;  who  then  can 
doubt  its  efficacy  to  save  those,  our  dying  babes,  who  have  not 
sinned  "after  the  similitude  of  Adam's  transgression,"  i.  e.  are  in- 
capable of  sinning  by  actual  personal  transgression,  as  Adam  did? 
We  may  rest  assured,  now,  that  Christ  has  died,  and  satisfied  the 

*  Br.  Cumming's  Infant  Salvation:  London,  18-18,  p.  34. 


168  CHILDREN    IN    HEAVEN. 

law  not  only  for  that  breach  of  it  by  which  death  entered  into 
the  world,  but  has  so  satisfied  it,  that  actual  transgressors,  even 
the  vilest,  may  be  saved,  that  all  who  die  before  they  can  possi- 
bly become  actual  transgressors,  are  admitted  to  heaven.  All  the 
obstacles  in  the  way  of  their  salvation  have  been  effectually  re- 
moved. As  without  their  personal  participation  in  the  sin  of 
Adam,  they  became  subject  to  death,  so  by  the  imputation  of 
Christ's  righteousness,  without  their  personal  acceptance  of  it, 
they  are  made  partakers  of  everlasting  life. 

Oh,  it  is  a  heart-consoling  truth  that  Christ  died  for  little  chil- 
dren. If  his  blood  was  sufficient  to  cleanse  a  dying  malefactor, 
it  is  sufficient  to  wash  away  the  stains  of  original  sin,  in  those 
who  are  innocent  of  personal  offences.  This  world  is  full  of  the 
graves  of  little  children.  There  is  a  grim  reaper  among  the 
flowers,  whose  name  is  Death. 

"  *  Shall  I  have  naught  that  is  fair/  saith  he ; 
'  Have  naught  but  the  bearded  grain  ?' 
He  reaps  the  bearded  grain  at  a  breath, 
And  the  flowers  that  grow  between."® 

Oh,  it  is  a  delightful  thought,  that  the  blood  of  Jesus  Christ 
Bets  them  free  from  the  only  sentence  of  condemnation  that  could 
be  inflicted  on  them.  Oh,  it  is  an  enrapturing  thought,  that  he 
who  passed  through  several  periods  of  human  life,  with  our 
nature  upon  him,  that  he  might  sanctify  and  save  it,  was  once 
an  infant,  and  that,  when  on  the  cross,  he  saw  of  the  travail  of 
HIS  soul,  and  was  satisfied,  he  beheld  among  the  armies  of  his 
worshippers  myriads  of  infant  souls — an  innumerable  company 

*  Longfellow. 


INFANTS    IN    HEAVEN.  169 

of  those  concerning  whom,  with  matchless  grace  dropping  from 
HIS  lips,  HE  had  said,  "  Of  such   is  the  kingdom  of  heaven." 

The  salvation  of  infants  is  not  in  conflict  with  a  single  one 
of  the  doctrines  of  the  Reformation,  or  doctrines  of  grace.  It 
is  not  inconsistent  with  the  doctrine  of  regeneration,  and  the 
necessity  of  that  change,  in  all  who  would  enter  into  the  heav- 
enly kingdom.  This  change  in  infants,  before  they  are  yet  fit  sub- 
jects of  instruction,  must  of  course  be  effected  without  means,  by 
the  immediate  agency  of  the  Holy  Spirit.  The  same  Being  who 
sanctified  Jeremiah  and  John  the  Baptist  from  the  womb  is  able, 
in  like  manner,  to  sanctify  others  who  are  spared  to  a  mature 
age  in  this  world,  and  all  those  young  children,  who  are  taken 
out  of  it,  before  they  have  committed  actual  transgression. 
"  They  are  regenerated  and  saved  by  Christ,  through  the  Spirit, 
who  worketh  when,  and  where,  and  how  he  pleaseth."*  If  we 
reject  the  doctrine  of  infant  regeneration,  on  the  ground  of  its 
mysteriousness,  we  may,  on  the  same  grounds,  reject  the  regen- 
eration of  adults ;  for  who  can  tell  how  the  Spirit  operates,  in  re- 
newing the  hearts  of  those  who  can  understand  the  terms  of  the 
gospel  ?  The  principle  of  real  saving  grace  may  exist  in  the 
hearts  of  children  who  are,  as  yet,  incapable  of  actively  exercis- 
ing that  grace.  "  An  adult  cannot  be  regenerated,  without  his 
new  nature  expressing  itself  in  faith.  But  the  Spirit  comes  to 
infants  as  the  dew  on  Hermon,  and  as  he  works  in  the  secret 
parts  of  the  earth,  they  may  be  regenerated,  and  be  united  to 
Christ's  body  by  the  illapse  of  the  quickening  power  from  the 
Divine  head,  though  that  life  may  slumber  in  them,  as  the  living 

*  Westminster  Confession,  x.  J  3. 
22 


170  CHILDREN     IN     HEAVEN. 

principle  slumbers  in  the  unsown  wheat."*  There  is  nolliing, 
then,  incredible  in  the  idea  that  God  may  commune  with  the 
spirit  of  a  little  child  ; — rather  is  there  something  grateful  in  the 
thought  that  the  Spirit  who  is  so  often  grieved  away  from  the 
worldly,  perv'crse  hearts  of  men  and  women,  who  comes  to  make 
them  HIS  temple,  but  finds  them  polluted  with  idols,  may  yet 
take  up  HLS  residence  in  hearts  which  never  yet  have  been  de- 
filed with  evil  thoughts,  corrupt  motives,  impure  desires,  and 
unholy  passions. 

'Nor  is  tlie  doctrine  of  infant  salvation  irreconcilable  with  the 
sovereignty  of  divine  grace.  None  will  pretend  that  their  sal- 
vation is  left  to  accident,  or  that  they  are  saved  without  a  Divine 
purpose.  But  it  cannot  be  pretended  that  they  are  chosen  on  ac- 
count of  foreseen  faith  and  repentance,  of  which  they  are  not 
capable.  If  God  has  chosen  them,  he  must  have  chosen  them 
"  according  to  the  counsel  of  his  own  will."  He  foreknew  and 
predestinated  them  to  be  heirs  of  his  glory.  The  doctrine  of 
sovereign,  unconditional  salvation  is,  after  all,  one  of  the  bright- 
est revelations  of  heaven,  because  it  secures  the  salvation  of 
those  millions  of  little  beings  who  just  aliglit  on  these  mortal 
shores,  then  wing  their  way  to  mingle  in  the  scenes  of  a  brighter 
and  happier  world. 

Such  will  be  the  triumphs  of  redeeming  love.  The  whole 
tenor  of  the  gospel  makes  it  evident  that  all  who  die  previous  to 
the  age  of  responsibility,  are  taken  by  the  good  Shepherd  into 
HIS  eternal  fold.  That  gospel,  which,  while  it  affords  the  im- 
penitent no  hopes  of  safety,  teaches  that  it  is  God's  delight  to 

■*■  Dr.  Hodge  in  Bib.  Recertory  for  April,  1855. 


INFANTS    IN    HEAVEN.  171 

receive  the  returning  prodigal,  and  declares  that  whosoever  will, 
may  come  and  take  of  the  waters  of  life  freely — that  gospel  I 
say,  which  bears  so  gracious  an  aspect  towards  rebellious  offend- 
ers, opens  wide  the  door  of  mercy  to  those  who  cannot  be  charged 
with  impenitence  and  unbelief. 

But  the  Scriptures  are  not  wanting  in  passages  which  necessa- 
rily imply,  or  directly  teach  the  consoling  truth  which  is  in- 
volved in  its  general  system  of  doctrines.  "  Out  of  the  mouth 
of  babes  and  sucklings  hast  thou  ordained  strength,"  or,  ''  per- 
fected praise."* 

This  is  the  passage  which  our  Saviour  quoted  to  confound  the 
chief  priests  and  scribes,  who  were  greatly  displeased,  because 
the  little  children  cried  in  the  temple,  "  Hosanna  to  the  Son  of 
David  !"  If  nothing  more,  it  seems  to  teach  that  there  is  a  pe- 
culiar excellence  in  the  praise  of  children,  who,  by  the  Assembly 
of  Divines,  are  said  to  come  nearest  to  our  lost  estate  of  inno- 
cency.  Out  of  their  mouth  praise  may  be  more  perfect,  and, 
therefore,  more  acceptable  to  God,  than  from  the  lips  of  those 
who  have  defiled  themselves  by  a  long  course  of  transgression. 
"  It  seems  to  me,"  says  an  intelligent  American  missionary,  "we 
need  infant  choirs  in  heaven  to  make  up  full  concert  to  the 
angelic  symphony.  Who  will  sing  like  unto  them  of  the  manger, 
and  the  swaddling  clothes,  and  of  the  Lord  of  all,  drawing 
nourishment  from  the  bosom  of  mortal  mothers !  True,  these 
are  themes  of  infinite  interest,  and  the  delight  and  wonder  of 
angels.     But  oh !  they  are  too  tender  for  the  archangel's  poAverful 

*  Psalm  viii.  2 ;  Matt.  xxi.  16. 


172  CHILDREN    IN    HEAVEN. 

trump — too  tender  for  the  thundering  notes  of  cherubim  and 
seraphim.     Vie  must  have  infant  choirs  in  heaven."* 

"The  harp  of  heaven 
Had  lacked  its  least,  but  not  its  meanest  string, 
Had  children  not  been  taught  to  play  upon  it, 
And  sing  from  feelings  all  their  own,  what  men 
Nor  angels  can  conceive  of  creatures  born 
Under  the  curse,  yet  from  the  curse  redeemed. 
And  placed  at  once  beyond  the  power  to  fall, — 
Safety  which  men  nor  angels  ever  knew, 
Till  ranks  of  these,  and  all  of  those  had  fallen." 

There  are  several  passages  in  the  New  Testament  which  record 
the  tender  regard  our  Saviour  had  for  little  children,  and  seem 
expressly  to  teach  that  they  are  the  heirs  of  salvation.  On  a 
certain  occasion,  His  disciples  asked  him  this  question,  "  Who  is 
the  greatest  in  the  kingdom  of  heaven  ?"  He  answered  it  by 
taking  a  little  child,  and  placing  him  in  the  midst  of  them,  and 
telling  them  that  unless  they  were  converted,  and  became  as 
little  children,  they  could  not  enter  the  kingdom  of  heaven ;  and 
that  in  order  to  be  greatest  in  that  kingdom,  they  must  humble 
themselves  as  that  little  child :  and  added,  "  Whoso  shall  receive 
one  such  little  child  in  my  name  receiveth  ME."f  He  goes  on 
to  add,  "  Take  heed  that  ye  despise  not  one  of  these  little  ones  ; 
for  I  say  unto  you,  that  in  heaven  their  angels  do  always  behold 
the  face  of  my  Father  which  is  in  heaven.  For  the  Son  of 
man  is  come  to  save  that  which  is  lost."  "  Even  so,  it  is  not 
the  will  of  your  Father  which  is  in  heaven,  that  one  of  these 
little  ones  should  perish."     How  must  the  disciples  have  under- 

*  llev.  Dr.  Shauffler.  |  Matt,  xviii.  5. 


INFANTS    IN    HEAVEN.  173 

stood  their  Master,  with  the  little  child  in  their  midst,  and  having 
just  heard  him  say  that  they  must  be  converted,  and  become  as 
little  children,  or  they  could  not  enter  heaven  ?  They  must  have 
supposed,  that  by  the  "  little  ones,"  not  one  of  whom  it  is  God's 
will  should  perish,  he  referred  to  little  children.  Those  who 
are  converted,  and  become  like  little  children,  are,  doubtless, 
figuratively  included ;  it  is  not  the  will  of  our  heavenly  Father 
that  they  should  perish  : — how,  then,  can  it  be  that  those  wdio 
are  selected  as  the  standards  of  comparison,  patterns  for  imita- 
tion, should  ever  perish  ? 

"  Of  siich  is  the  kingdom  of  heaven.^^* 

"  I  think  it,  at  least,  highly  probable,"  says  the  Rev.  John 
Newton,  "  that  where  our  Lord  says,  ^  Suifer  little  children  to 
come  unto  me,  and  forbid  them  not,  for  of  such  is  the  kingdom 
of  heaven,'  he  does  not  only  intimate  the  necessity  of  our  be- 
coming like  little  children  in  simplicity,  as  a  qualification,  with- 
out which  (as  he  expressly  declares  in  other  places)  we  cannot 
enter  into  his  kingdom,  but  informs  us  of  a  fact,  that  the  num- 
ber of  infants,  who  are  effectually  redeemed  unto  God  by  his 
blood,  so  greatly  exceeds  the  aggregate  of  adult  believers,  that, 
comparatively  speaking.  His  kingdom  may  be  said  to  consist  of 
little  children."  As  if  the  full  import  of  what  HE  had  said  to 
HIS  disciples  was,  "  Think  not  that  little  children  are  beneath 
my  notice ;  think  not  that  I  am  a  stranger  to  little  children  ; 
suffer  them  to  come  to  me,  and  forbid  them  not.  I  have  often 
been  in  their  society ;  I  love  their  society ;  the  world  from  which 
I  came,  and  to  which  I  go,  is  full  of  little  children."     Dr.  Scott 

*  Matt.  six.  14. 


174  CHILDREN    IN    HEAVEN. 

says  that  "  the  expression  may  intimate  that  the  kingdom  of 
heavenly  glory  is  greatly  constituted  of  such  as  die  in  their  in- 
fancy." "  The  expression,"  says  Dr.  Russell,  who  has  treated 
this  subject  with  great  ability,  "  means  that,  '  of  such  it  is  in  a 
great  measure  juade  up,'  because  they  will  form  a  very  great  pro- 
portion of  the  redeemed  family  of  heaven."  The  Saviour  ap- 
pears to  have  had  the  universal  salvation  of  all  them  who  die  in 
infancy  in  his  view.  His  reasoning  is  not  "'  of  persons  resem- 
bling such  in  character  is  the  kingdom  made  up,"  for  this  would 
not  warrant  the  conclusion  drawn,  that  children  ought  not  to  be 
hindered  from  being  brought  to  him,  in  order  to  be  blessed. 
AVhen  Christ  says,  "  Snffer  little  children  to  come  unto  me," 
"  nothing  can  be  plainer,"  says  John  Calvin,  "  than  that  he  in- 
tends those  who  are  in  a  state  of  real  infancy.  And  to  prevent 
this  from  being  thought  unreasonable,  he  adds,  '  Of  such  is  the 
kingdom  of  heaven."  And  if  infants  be  necessarily  compre- 
hended, it  LS  beyond  all  doubt  that  the  word  '  such'  designates 
both  infants  themselves  and  those  who  resemble  them."  "  All 
those  whom  Christ  blesses  are  exempted  from  the  curse  of  Adam 
and  the  wrath  of  God ;  and  as  it  is  known  that  infants  were 
blessed  by  him,  it  follows  that  they  are  exempted  from  death."* 
"  When  our  blessed  Lord,"  says  Dr.  Hodge,  "  uttered  those 
dreadful  words,  '  He  that  bclieveth  not  shall  be  damned,'  he 
did  not  mean  to  shut  the  doors  of  heaven  in  the  face  of  the 
countless  clouds  of  departed  infants,  the  purchase  of  his  blood, 
which  flock  as  doves  to  the  celestial  gates,  and  of  whom,  as  he 
himself  says,  his  kingdom   largely  consists. "f     "Heaven  has 

*  Institutes,  iv.  c.  16,  ^7  and  31.  f  Bib.  Repertory,  April,  1855. 


INFANTS    IN     HEAVEN.  175 

many  joys,  joys  which  no  man  has  seen  or  could  express ;  and  all 
its  joys  must  be  from  beholding  the  glory  of  the  Lamb,  as  it 
sheds  blessing,  and  beauty,  and  truth  over  all ;  but  it  were 
worth  centuries  of  Christian  service  and  trial  here  to  reach,  at 
last,  the  threshold  of  our  '  Father's  house,'  and  look  in  upon  the 
happy  family  of  his  little  children,  growing  in  wisdom,  and 
strength,  and  praise,  under  his  delighted  eye  and  perfect  teach- 
ing."* 

As  it  has  pleased  God  to  call  so  many  from  this  world  in  their 
infancy,  what  multitudes  have  already  gone  up  to  the  mansions 
of  the  blessed !  If  of  the  thousands  of  millions  of  our  race 
who  have  gone  down  to  the  grave,  one  half  died  in  infancy,  and 
a  considerable  number  of  the  remainder  were  prepared  for  death 
by  repentance  of  their  sins,  and  faith  in  the  Lord  Jesus,  then 
does  it  appear  that  God  is  rapidly  replenishing  his  kingdom  with 
holy  and  happy  subjects,  that  heaven  has  already  become  the 
most  populous  portion  of  his  empire.  Christ  already  sees  of  the 
"travail  of  his  soul,  and  divides  the  spoil  Avith  the  strong." 
For,  mark,  the  doctrine  is  not  that  salvation  is  confined  to  the 
deceased  infants  of  believing  parents,  but  that  the  children  of 
irreligious  parents,  of  infidels,  and  of  heathen  who  die  before 
they  are  of  sufficient  age  to  incur  personal  guilt,  are  all  saved. 
The  thousands  of  infants  that  perished  when  the  world  was  de- 
stroyed by  a  flood — those  that  were  consumed  when  Sodom  and 
Gomorrah  were  burned  with  fire  and  brimstone — those  slain  in 
the  sack  of  towns  and  cities,  in  the  bloody  wars  of  ancient  na- 
tions— those  whose  blood  was  spilt  by  Nebuzaradan,  and  by 

*  Dr.  Bethunc's  "  Early  Lost,  Early  Saved,"  p.  85. 


176  CHILDREN     IN     HEAVEN. 

Herod  in  Bethlehem  and  the  adjacent  villages,  when  a  voice  was 
heard,  lamentation,  and  weeping,  and  great  mourning — those 
that  perished  in  the  siege  of  Jerusalem — and  those  whose  bodies 
have  been  oifered  up  to  heathen  deities — went  to  heaven.  God 
overrules  the  wars,  the  judgments,  men's  crime,  and  even  the 
horrid  custom  of  sacrificing  infants,  to  the  filling  up  of  his  king- 
dom. Thousands  upon  thousands,  oifered  as  victims  upon  pagan 
altars,  have  been  borne  by  angels  to  heaven,  who,  if  they  had 
been  permitted  to  live,  would  have  become  idolaters,  and  per- 
haps, in  their  turn,  have  sacrificed  their  offspring.  Those  min- 
istering spirits  are  sent  not  only  to  Christian  but  to  heathen 
shores,  to  bear  the  immortal  spirit  of  the  dying  infant  to  the 
presence  of  that  Saviour  who  said,  "Suifer  little  children  to  come 
to  me."  And  thus  does  he  divide  the  spoil  with  the  strong. 
"  From  the  worst  barbarities  of  the  heathen,  God's  love  and 
wisdom  thus  extract  blessings."  With  all  the  numberless  in- 
fants who  have  been  thrust  into  the  flaming  arms  of  Moloch — ■ 
who  have  been  hurried  from  the  womb  to  the  grave  by  their 
Polynesian  mothers — oifered  up  in  the  groves  of  the  Druids, 
or  "  left  to  perish  in  the  Ganges,  or  to  die  in  the  streets  of  Pe- 
kin,  it  is  well."  They  are  a  part  of  that  multitude  whom  no 
man  can  number,  of  all  nations,  and  kindreds,  and  people,  and 
tongues,  who  stand  before  the  throne  and  before  the  Lamb,  with 
white  robes,  and  palms  in  their  hands. 

It  is  true  the  death  of  infants  and  children  often  involves 
many  circumstances  of  a  very  afilictive  character.  The  smitten 
child,  like  the  son  of  the  poor  widow  of  Zarephath,  may  be  an 
only  one ;  or,  if  not  an  only  one,  may  be  esteemed  the  flower  of 


INFANTS    IN    HEAVEN.  177 

fairest  promise,  and  have  entwined  its  tendrils  around  the  warmest 
affections  of  the  heart.  The  object  on  which  was  centred  many 
fondly-cherished  hopes  has  been  suddenly  cut  down,  and  a  chasm 
produced  in  the  domestic  circle,  and  in  the  sympathies  of  tlie 
bosom,  which  no  sublunary  object  can  ever  fill.  A  shadow  is 
left  by  the  hearth-stone  which  can  never  more  depart.  The 
parent  takes  his  dear  one  from  his  bosom,  and  lays  it  down  in 
the  shroud,  while  his  heart  is  pierced  with  the  most  poignant 
sorrow.  Alas  !  how  insecure  are  our  choicest  pleasures  and  our 
most  valued  blessings !  Like  the  dew  upon  a  flower,  like  the 
beauty  of  a  full  blown  rose,  how  soon  they  vanish,  and  we  see 
them  no  more. 

Who  but  a  bereaved  parent  can  know  the  grief  of  those  who 
are  called  to  lay  their  children  in  the  grave. 

"  I've  sat  and  watched  by  dying  beauty's  head, 
And  burning  tears  of  hopeless  anguish  shed  ; 
I've  gazed  upon  the  sweet,  but  pallid  face. 
And  vainly  tried  some  comfort  there  to  trace ; 
I've  listened  to  the  short  and  struggling  breath ; 
I've  seen  the  cherub  eye  grow  dim  in  death."  ^ 

But  whilst  the  death  of  children  involves  many  circumstances 
of  a  painful  and  distressing  character,  it  is  by  Christianity  ren- 
dered glorious,  and  even  attractive.  There  is  something  lovely 
in  the  departure  of  an  infant  to  be  with  Christ  and  his  angels. 
We  are  fain  to  imagine  that — 

"  Some  angel  brighter  than  the  rest"* 

is  sent  to  conduct  the  spirit  to  its  mansion  near  the  throne.     We 

*  Pres.  J.  Q.  Adams. 
23 


178  CHILDREN    IN     HEAVEN^ 

look  upon  the  lifeless  clay,  beautiful  in  cleatli.  "We  can  say, 
Better  die  young  than  incur  a  dishonoured  name,  at  a  riper  age, 
and  spend  an  old  age  of  shame.  Better  that  the  opening  flower, 
all  moist  with  the  dew  of  the  morning,  should  be  plucked  by  a 
gentle  hand,  to  gladden,  with  its  perfume  and  beauty,  the  choicest 
apartment  of  the  house,  than  that  the  tempest,  at  night,  should 
rudely  shatter  its  stalk,  and  scatter  its  petals  over  the  miry  ground. 
We  gaze  upon  features  pale  and  cold,  but  which  have  never  been 
disturbed  by  envy,  malice,  or  revenge ;  never  have  been  darkened 
by  pining  grief.  And  as  we  gaze  there  is  no  retrospect  of  re- 
verses, of  vicissitudes,  of  sorrows,  and  of  sins.  True,  we  be- 
hold the  remains  of  one  who  was  the  offsj^ring  of  degenerate 
parents  ;  who  was  heir  to  a  depraved  nature,  and  could  be  saved 
only  by  the  atoning  merits  of  a  crucified  Saviour,  and  the  renew- 
ing grace  of  the  Holy  Spirit ;  and  who,  if  life  had  lasted,  would 
have  been  exposed  to  temptation  and  sin.  But  how  consolatory 
the  reflection  that  the  new-born  soul,  which  so  lately  animated 
the  now  lifeless  frame,  adorns,  like  a  starry  gem,  the  crown  of 
Immanuel,  and  vies  with  the  angelic  host  in  exalted  songs  to  the 
Lamb  that  was  slain. 

Perhaps  the  eye  of  some  irreligious  parent,  who  has  been 
bereaved  of  children,  may  fall  on  these  pages.  And  are  you, 
then,  the  parent  of  children  "  passed  into  the  skies  ?"  They 
cast  their  glittering  diadems  at  the  feet  of  that  Saviour  whose 
proJBPered  mercy  you  are  still  neglecting.  They  praise  and  adore 
him  to  whom  you  neglect  to  pray.  They  are  gone  from  you. 
Oh,  arc  they  lost  for  ever  ? 


IXFANTS    IN    HEAVEN.  179 

The  Christian  parent,  when  similarly  bereaved,  can  say : 

"  Gone,  but  not  lost, 

A  treasure  but  removed, 
A  bright  bird  parted  for  a  clearer  day ; 
Mine  still  in  heaven."* 

Mine  hereafter  to  meet — mine  to  love — mine  Math  whom  to 
rejoice  in  eternal  hymns  to  a  glorified  Saviour. 

Can  you  adopt  this  language  ?  Oh,  will  the  period  ever  come 
when  you  shall  again  embrace  those  sweet  cherubs — sweeter  far 
than  when  they  bore  "  the  image  of  the  earthy  ?"  Methinks 
they  beckon  to  you  from  their  thrones.  Methinks  they  stand 
ready  to  welcome  you  to  those  blissful  mansions. 

*  Mrs.  Ilemans. 


mi\^  of  tlic  mtsi-hotn 

WILLIS  GAYLORD  CLARK. 

YouNC^  mother,  he  is  gone! 
His  dimpled  cheek  no  more  will  touch  thy  breast ; 

No  more  the  music  tone 
Float  from  his  lips,  to  thine  all  fondly  pressed ; 
His  smile  and  happy  laugli  are  lost  to  thee ; 
Earth  must  his  mother  and  his  pillow  be. 

His  was  the  morning  hour, 
And  he  hath  passed  in  beauty  from  the  day, 

A  bud,  not  yet  a  flower. 
Torn,  in  its  sweetness,  from  the  parent's  spray ; 
The  death- wind  swept  him  to  his  soft  repose, 
As  frost,  in  spring-time,  blights  the  early  rose. 

Never  on  earth  again 
Will  his  rich  accents  charm  thy  listening  ear, 

Like  some  ^olian  strain. 
Breathing  at  eventide  serene  and  clear ; 
His  voice  is  choked  in  dust,  and  on  his  eyes 
The  unbroken  seal  of  peace  and  silence  lies. 

180 


DEATH     or     THE     FIRST-BORN.  181 

And  fi-om  thy  yearning  heart, 
Whose  inmost  core  was  warm  with  love  for  him, 

A  gladness  must  depart, 
And  those  kind  eyes  with  many  tears  be  dim ; 
While  lonely  memories,  an  unceasing  train. 
Will  turn  the  raptures  of  the  past  to  pain. 

Yet  mourner,  while  the  day 
Rolls  like  the  darkness  of  a  funeral  by. 

And  hope  forbids  one  ray 
To  stream  athwart  the  grief-discoloured  sky; 
There  breaks  upon  thy  sorrow's  evening  gloom, 
A  trembling  lustre  from  beyond  the  tomb. 

'Tis  from  the  better  land ! 
There,  bathed  in  radiance  that  around  them  springs, 

Thy  loved  one's  wings  expand ; 
As  with  the  choiring  cherubim  he  sings. 
And  all  the  glory  of  that  God  can  see. 
Who  said,  on  earth,  to  children,  "  Come  to  me." 

Mother,  thy  child  is  blessed ; 
And  though  his  presence  may  be  lost  to  thee, 

And  vacant  leave  thy  breast. 
And  missed  a  sweet  load  from  thy  parent  knee; 
Though  tones  familiar  from  tliine  ear  have  passed, 
Thou'lt  meet  thy  first-born  with  his  Lord  at  last. 


MARIA  WHITE  LOWELL. 

\Ye  Avreathed  about  our  darling's  head 

The  moruing-glory  bright ; 
Her  little  face  looked  out  beneath, 

So  fiill  of  life  and  light, 
So  lit  as  with  a  sunrise, 

That  we  could  only  say, 
"She  is  the  morning-glory  true. 

And  her  poor  types  are  they." 

So  always  from  that  happy  time 

We  called  her  by  their  name. 
And  very  fitting  did  it  seem; 

For  sure  as  morning  came. 
Behind  her  cradle  bars  she  smiled 

To  catch  the  first  faint  ray, 
As  from  the  trellis  smiles  the  flower 

And  opens  to  the  day. 

But  not  so  beautiful  they  rear 
Their  airy  cups  of  blue, 

182 


THE    MORNIjN^G-GLORY.  183 

As  turned  her  sweet  eyes  to  the  light, 

Brimmed  with  sleep's  tender  dew ; 
And  not  so  close  their  tendrils  fine 

Round  their  supports  are  thrown, 
As  those  dear  arms  whose  outstretched  plea 

Clasped  all  hearts  to  her  own. 

We  used  to  think  how  she  had  come, 

Even  as  comes  the  flower, 
The  last  and  perfect  added  gift 

To  crown  Love's  morning  hour: 
And  how  in  her  was  imaged  forth 

The  love  we  could  not  say. 
As  on  the  little  dew-drops  round 

Shines  back  the  heart  of  day. 

"VVe  never  could  have  thought,  O  God, 

That  she  must  wither  up. 
Almost  before  a  day  was  flown. 

Like  the  morning-glory's  cup ; 
We  never  thought  to  see  her  droop 

Her  fair  and  noble  head, 
Till  she  lay  stretched  before  our  eyes, 

Wilted,  and  cold,  and  dead ! 

The  morning-glory's  blossoming. 

Will  soon  be  coming  round. 
We  see  their  rows  of  heart-shaped  leaves 

Up-springing  from  the  ground ; 


184  CHILDREN     IN    HEAVEN. 

The  tender  things  the  winter  killed 

Renew  again  their  birth, 
But  the  glory  of  our  morning 

Has  passed  away  from  earth. 

O  earth !    in  vain   our  aching  eyes 

Stretch  over  thy  green  plain  ! 
Too  harsh  thy  dews,  too  gross  thine  air, 

Her  spirit  to  sustain : 
But  up  in  groves  of  Paradise 

Full  surely  we  shall  see 
Our  morning-glory  beautiful 

Twine  round  our  dear  Lord's  knee. 


Wiith  ^tssk. 

A.  D.  F.  RANDOLPH. 

IIuG  me  closer,  closer,  mother, 

Put  your  arms  around  me  tight, 
I  am  cold  and  tired,  mother. 

And  I  feel  so  strange  to-night; 
Something  hurts  me  here,  dear  mother. 

Like  a  stone  upon  my  breast; 
Oh    I    wonder,  wonder,  mother, 

Why  it  is  I  cannot  rest ! 

All  the  day  while  you  were  working, 

As  I  lay  upon  my  bed, 
I  was  trying  to  be  patient, 

And  to  think  of  what  you  said; 
How  the  kind  and  blessed  Jesus 

Loves  his  lambs  to  watch  and  keep, 
And  I  wish  he'd  come,  and  take  me 

In  his  arms,  that  I  might  sleep. 

Just  before  the  lamp  was  lighted, 
Just  before  the  children  came; 

While  the  room  was  very  quiet, 
I  heard  some  one  ciU  my  name : 

24  185 


186  CHILDREN    IN    HEAVEN. 

But  I  could  not  see  the  Saviour, 

Though  I  straiued  my  eyes  to  see; 
And  I  woudered  if  he  saw  me — 

Would  he  speak  to  such  as  me? 
In  a  moment  I  was  looking 

On  a  world  so  bright  and  fair, 
Which  was  full  of  little  children — 

And  they  seemed  so  happy  there. 

They  were  singing — oh  !    how  sweetly ! 

Sweeter  songs  I  never  heard ! 
They  were  singing  sweeter,  mother, 

Than  the  sweetest  singing  bird. 
And  while  I  my  breath  was  holding. 

One  so  bright  upon  me  smiled ; 
And  I  knew  it  must  be  Jesus, 

When  he  said,  "  Come  here,  my  child." 

"  Come  up  here,  my  little  Bessie, 

Come  up  here,  and  live  with  me. 
Where  the  children  never  suiFer, 

But  are  happier  than  you  see !" 
Then  I  thought  of  all  you'd  told  me, 

Of  that  bright  and  happy  land; 
I  was  going  when  you  called  me. 

When  you  came  and  kissed  my  hand. 

And  at  first  I  felt  so  sorry 

You  had  called  me;    I  would  go, — 


LITTLE     BESSIE.  187 


Oh  !    to  sleep  and  never  suiier ! — 
Mother,  don't  be  crying  so ! 

Hug  me  closer,  closer,  mother, 
Put  your  arms  about  me  tight; 

Oh !    how  much  I  love  you,  mother, 
But  I  feel  so  strano;e  to-night! 

Hi  :k  ^  :)!:  ^ 

And  the  mother  pressed  her  closer 

To  her  over-burdened  breast. 
On  the  heart  so  near  to  breaking 

Lay  the  heart  so  near  its  rest. 
At  the  solemn  hour  of  midnight. 

In  the  darkness,  calm,  and  deep, 
Lying  on  her  mother's  bosom, 

Little  Bessie  fell  asleep. 


LONGFELLOW. 

There  Is  no  flock,  however  watched  or  tended, 

But  one  dead  lamb  is  there ! 
There  is  no  fireside,  howsoe'er  defended, 

But  has  one  vacant  chair ! 

The  air  is  full  of  farewells  to  the  dying, 

And  mournings  for  the  dead ; 
The  heart  of  Rachel,  for  her  children  crying, 

Will  not  be  comforted ! 

Let  us  be  patient!     These  severe  afflictions 

Not  from  the  ground  arise ; 
But  oftentimes  celestial  benedictions 

Assume  this  dark  disguise. 

We  see  but  dimly  through  the  mists  and  vapours; 

Amid  these  earthly  damps. 
What  seem    to  us  but  sad  funereal  tapers 

May  be  heaven's  distant  lamps. 

There  is  no  death !     What  seems  so  is  transition  j 
This  life  of  mortal  breath 

188 


RESIGNATION.  189 

Is  but  the  suburb  of  the  life  elyslan, 
Whose  j)ortal  we  call  death. 

She  is  not  dead — the  child  of  our  affection — 

But  gone  into  that  school 
Where  she  no  longer  needs  our  poor  protection, 

And  Christ  himself  doth  rule. 

In  that  great  cloister's  stillness  and  seclusion, 

By  guardian  angels  led, 
Safe  from  temptation,  safe  from  sin's  pollution. 

She  lives,  whom  we  call  dead. 

Day  after  day,  we  think  what  she  is  doing 

In  those  bright  realms  of  air; 
Year  after  year,  her  tender  steps  pursuing. 

Behold  her  grown  more  fair. 

Thus  do  we  walk  with  her,  and  keep  unbroken 

The  bond  which  nature  gives. 
Thinking  that  our  remembrance,  though  unspoken, 

May  reach  her  where  she  lives. 

Not  as  a  child  shall  we  again  behold  her. 

For  when  with  raptures  wild, 
In  our  embraces  we  again  enfold  her, 

She  will  not  be  a  child ; 

But  a  fair  maiden  in  her  Father's  mansion, 
Clothed  with  celestial  grace  ', 


190  CIIILDREX    IX     HEAVEN. 

And  beautiful  with  all  the  soul's  expansion 
Shall  we  behold  her  face. 

And  though  at  times  impetuous  with  emotion 

And  anguish  long  sujjpre^scd, 
The  swelling  heart  heaves  moaning  like  the  ocean, 

That  cannot  be  at  rest, — 

We  will  be  patient,  and  assuage  the  feeling 

We  may  not  wholly  stay; 
By  silence  sanctifying,  not  concealing, 

The  grief  that  must  have  way. 


I  ASKED  them  why  the  verdant  turf  was  riven 
From  its  young  rooting;,  and  with  silent  hp, 
They  pointed  to  a  new-made  chasm  among 
The  marble-pillared  mansions  of  the  dead. 
AVho  goeth  to  his  rest  in  yon  damp  couch  ? 
The  tearless  crowd  past  on — "  'twas  but  a  babe." 
A  Babe!     And  poise  ye  in  the  rigid  scales 
Of  calculation,  the  fond  bosom's  wealth  ? 
Rating  its  priceless  idols  as  ye  weigh 
Such  merchandize  as  moth  and  rust  corrupt, 
Or  the  rude  robber  steals  ?     Ye  mete  out  grief. 
Perchance,  when  youth,  maturity  or  age. 
Sink  in  the  thronging  tomb  ;  but  when  the  breath 
Grows  icy  on  the  lip  of  innocence, 
Repress  your  measured  sympathies,  and  say, 
"Twos  but  a  babe!" 

What  know  ye  of  her  love, 
Who  patient  watcheth,  till  the  stars  grow  dim, 
Over  her  drooping  infant,  with  an  eye 
Bright  as  unchanging  Hope,  if  his  repose  ? 
What  know  ye  of  her  Avoe,  M-ho  sought  no  joy 

191 


CHILDREN    IN    HEAVEN. 

More  exquisite,  than  on  his  placid  brow 

To  trace  tlie  glow  of  health,  and  drink  at  dawn 

The  thrilling  lustre  of  his  waking  smile  ? 

Go  ask  that  musing  father,  why  yon  grave 
So  narrow,  and  so  noteless,  might  not  close 
Without  a  tear  ? 

And  though  his  lip  be  mute, 
Feeling  the  poverty  of  speech,  to  give 
Fit  answer  to  thee,  still  his  pallid  brow, 
And  the  deep  agonizing  prayer  that  loads 
Midnight's  dark  wing  to  liim,  the  God  of  strength, 
Might  satisfy  thy  question. 

Ye  Avho  mourn 
Whene'er  yon  vacant  cradle,  or  the  robes 
That  decked  the  lost  one's  form,  call  back  a  tide 
Of  alienated  joy,  can  ye  not  trust 
Your  treasure  to  Ms  arms,  whose  changeless  care 
Passeth  a  mother's  love  ?     Can  ye  not  hope, 
When  a  few  hastening  years  their  course  have  run, 
To  go  to  him,  though  he  no  more  on  earth 
Returns  to  you  ? 

And  when  glad  faith  doth  catch 
Some  echo  of  celestial  harmonies, 
Archangels'  praises,  with  the  high  response 
Of  cherubim,  and  seraphim,  oh  think — 
Think  that  your  babe  is  there. 


Ittlimj  a  ^l^iltr's  §rabe. 


N.  P.  WILLIS. 

Room,  gentle  flowers !    my  child  would  pass  to  heaven  * 
Ye  looked  not  for  her  yet  with  your  soft  eyes, 

0  watchful  ushers  at  Death's  narrow  door ! 
But  lo !    while  you  delay  to  let  her  forth, 
Angels,  beyond,  stay  for  her !     One  long  kiss 
From  lips  all  pale  with  agony,  and  tears. 
Wrung  after  anguish  had  dried  up  with  fire 
The  eyes  that  wept  them,  Avere  the  cup  of  life 
Held  as  a  Avelcome  to  her.     Weep,  O  mother! 
But  not  that  from  this  cup  of  bitterness 

A  cherub  of  the  sky  has  turned  away. 

One  look  upon  her  face  ere  she  depart ! 
My  daughter !  it  is  soon  to  let  thee  go ! 
My  daughter !    with  thy  birth  has  gushed  a  spring 

1  knew  not  of;    filling  my  heart  with  tears, 
And  turning  with  strange  tenderness  to  thee ! 
A  love — O  God,  it  seems  so — which  must  flow 
Far  as  thou  fleest,  and  'twixt  Heaven  and  me, 
Henceforward,  be  a  sweet  and  yearning  chain, 
Drawing  me  after  thee !     And  so  farewell ! 

25  193 


194  CHILDREN    IN    HEAVEN. 

'Tis  a  harsh  world  in  which  affection  knows 
No  place  to  treasure  up  its  loved  and  lost 
But  the  lone  grave !     Thou,  who  so  late  wast  sleeping 
Warm  in  the  close  folds  of  a  mother's  heart, 
Scarce  from  her  breast  a  single  pulse  receiving, 
But  it  was  sent  thee  with  some  tender  thought — 
How  can  I  leave  thee  here!     Alas  for  man! 
The  herb  in  its  humility  may  fall, 
And  waste  into  the  bright  and  genial  air, 
While  we,  by  hands  that  ministered  in  life 
Nothing  but  love  to  us,  are  thrust  away, 
The  earth  thrown  in  upon  our  just  cold  bosoms, 
And  the  warm  sunshine  trodden  out  for  ever! 
Yet  have  I  chosen  for  thy  grave,  my  child, 
A  bank  where  I  have  lain  in  summer  hours, 
And  thought  how  little  it  would  seem  like  death 
To  sleep  amid  such  loveliness.     The  brook 
Tripping  with  laughter  down  the  rocky  steps 
That  lead  us  to  thy  bed,  would  still  trip  on, 
Breaking  the  dread  hush  of  the  mourners  gone; 
The  birds  are  never  silent  that  build  here. 
Trying  to  sing  down  the  more  vocal  waters ; 
The  slope  is  beautiful  with  moss  and  flowers ; 
And,  far  below,  seen  under  arching  leaves. 
Glitters  the  warm  sun  on  the  village  spire, 
Pointing  the  living  after  thee.     And  this 
Seems  like  a  comfort,  and  replacing  now 
The  flowers  that  have  made  room  for  thee,  I  go 


MAKING    A    child's    GRAVE.  195 

To  whisper  the  same  peace  to  her  who  lies 
Robbed  of  her  child,  and  lonely.     'Tis  the  work 
Of  many  a  dark  hour,  and  of  many  a  prayer, 
To  bring  the  heart  back  from  an  infant  gone! 
Hope  must  give  o'er,  and  busy  fancy  blot 
Its  images  from  all  the  silent  rooms, 
And  every  sight  and  sound  familiar  to  her 
Undo  its  sweetest  link  j .  and  so,  at  last, 
The  fountain  that,  once  loosed,  must  flow  for  ever, 
Will  hide  and  waste  in  silence.     When  the  smile 
Steals  to  her  pallid  lip  again,  and  spring 
Wakens  its  buds  above  thee,  we  will  come, 
And,  standing  by  thy  music-haunted  grave, 
Look  on  each  other  cheerfully,  and  say, 
A  child  tliot  we  have  loved  is  gone  to  heaverij 
And  by  this  gate  of  flowers  she  passed  away! 


gons0lati0tt  on  t\t  geatl^  of  Sttfant  ^l^ilbren. 

COMPILED  BY  A  BEREAVED  PARENT.* 

2  Sam.  xii.  23.  "  I  shall  go  to  him."  Firsty  to  him  to  the 
grave.  Secondly,  to  him  to  heaven,  to  a  state  of  blessedness. 
Godly  parents  have  great  reason  to  hope  concerning  their  chil- 
dren who  die  in  infancy,  that  it  is  well  with  their  children  in 
the  other  world ;  for  the  promise  is  to  vs  and  to  our  seed,  which 
shall  be  performed  to  those  that  do  not  put  a  bar  in  their  own 
door,  as  infants  do  not.  This  may  comfort  us  when  our  chil- 
dren are  removed  from  us  by  death  ;  they  are  better  provided 
for,  both  in  work  and  wealth,  than  they  could  be  in  this  world. 
We  shall  be  with  them  shortly  to  part  no  more. — Matthew 
Henry's  Commentary. 

The  child  released  from  sufferings  went  before  to  a  better 
world.  Our  prayers  for  our  children  are  graciously  answered, 
if  some  of  them  die  in  their  tender  infancy  (for  they  are  well 
taken  care  of),  and  the  others  live  "  beloved  of  the  Lord." — 
Scott's  Commentary. 

Matthew  xix.  14.  "  But  Jesus  said,  Suffer  little  children,  and 
forbid  them  not,  to  come  unto  me  ;  for  of  such  is  the  kingdom 
of  heaven."  On  this  text  Scott  remarks,  "  Indeed,  the  expres- 
sion, '  for  of  such  is  the  kingdom  of  heaven,'  may  also  intimate 

*  Tract  !Xo.  233.    Published  by  the  Presbyterian  Board  of  Publication. 

196 


CONSOLATION    ON    THE    DEATH     OF    INFANTS.     197 

that  the  hingdom  of  heavenly  glory  is  greatly  constituted  of  such 
as  die  in  infancy.  Infants  are  as  capable  of  regeneration 
as  grown  persons ;  and  there  is  ground  to  conclude  that  all 
thos9  who  have  not  lived  to  commit  actual  transgressions,  though 
they  share  in  the  eifects  of  the  first  Adam's  offence,  will  also 
share  in  the  blessings  of  the  second  Adam's  gracious  covenant, 
without  their  personal  faith  and  obedience,  but  not  without  the 
regenerating  influence  of  the  Spirit  of  Christ." 

Romans  v.  14.  "  Death  reigned  from  Adam  to  Moses,  even 
over  them  that  had  not  sinned  after  the  similitude  of  Adam's 
transgression." 

On  this  text  Scott  says, — "  There  may  indeed  be  a  comforta- 
ble hope,  that  as  infants  die  in  Adam,  without  their  own  per- 
sonal transgression ;  so  they  will  be  saved  in  Christ,  without 
their  own  personal  faith  in  him,  as  never  living  to  be  capable 
of  it ;  yet  that  change  must  be  wrought  in  them  by  the  regen- 
erating Spirit,  which  would  have  produced  faith,  had  they  lived 
longer." 

"  Dear  Sister, — If  our  Lord  hath  taken  away  your  child,  your 
lease  of  him  is  expired.  And  if  ye  will  take  a  loan  of  a  child 
from  the  Lord,  give  him  back  again  willingly,  as  his  borrowed 
goods  should  return  to  him.  Believe  that  he  is  not  gone  away, 
but  sent  before ;  and  that  the  change  of  the  country  should 
make  you  think,  that  he  is  not  lost  to  you,  who  Ls  found  to 
Christ ;  and  that  he  is  now  before  you ;  and  that  the  dead  in 
Christ  shall  be  raised  again.  As  he  was  lent  a  while  to  time,  so 
lie  is  given  now  to  eternity,  which  will  take  yourself.  And  the 
difference  of  vour  sliipping,  and  his,  to  heaven  and   Christ's 


198  CHILDREN    IN    HEAVEN. 

shore,  tJie  land  of  life,  is  only  in  some  few  years,  which  weareth 
every  day  shorter,  and  some  short  and  soon  reckoned  summers 
will  give  you  a  meeting  with  him." — Rutherford's  Letter  to  Ag~ 
nes  Macmath,  Oct.  16,  1640. 

"  Heaven  is  greatly  made  up  of  little  children,  sweet  buda 
that  have  never  blown,  or  which  death  has  plucked  from  a 
mother's  bosom  to  lay  on  his  own  cold  breast,  just  when  they 
were  expanding,  flower-like,  from  the  sheath,  and  opening  their 
engaging  beauties  in  the  budding  time  and  spring  of  life.  '  Of 
such  is  the  kingdom  of  heaven.'  How  sweet  these  words  by 
the  cradle  of  a  dying  infant !  They  fall  like  balm  drops  on  our 
bleeding  heart,  when  we  watch  the  ebbing  of  that  young  life, 
as  wave  after  wave  breaks  feebler,  and  the  sinking  breath  gets 
lower  and  lower,  till  with  a  gentle  sigh,  and  a  passing  quiver 
of  the  lip,  our  child  now  leaves  its  body,  lying  like  an  angel 
asleep,  and  ascends  to  the  beatitudes  of  heaven  and  the  bosom 
of  God.  Indeed  it  may  be,  that  God  does  with  his  heavenly 
garden,  as  we  do  with  our  gardens.  He  may  chiefly  stock  it 
from  nurseries,  and  select  for  transplanting  what  is  yet  in 
its  young  and  tender  age — flowers  before  they  have  bloomed, 
and  trees  ere  they  begin  to  bear." — Dr.  Guthrie. 

John  Newton  says, — "  I  hope  you  are  both  well  reconciled  to 
die  death  of  your  child.  Indeed  I  cannot  be  sorry  for  the  death 
of  infants.  How  many  storms  do  they  escape !  Nor  can  I 
doubt,  in  my  private  judgment,  that  they  are  included  in  the 
election  of  grace.  Perhaps  those  who  die  in  infancy,  are  the 
exceeding  great  multitudes  of  all  people,  nations,  and  languages 
mentioned  in  Revelation  vii.  9,  in  distinction  from  the  visible 


CONSOLATION    ON    THE    DEATH    OF    INFANTS.     199 

body  of  professing  believers,  who  were  marked  on  their  fore- 
heads, and  openly  known  to  be  the  Lord's." 

"  Ye  have  lost  a  child — nay,  she  is  not  lost  to  you,  who  is  found 
to  Christ ;  she  is  not  sent  away,  but  only  sent  before  ;  like  unto  a 
star,  which  going  out  of  our  sight,  doth  not  die  and  vanish,  but 
shinetli  in  another  hemisphere  ;  ye  see  her  not,  yet  she  doth  shine 
in  another  country.  If  her  glass  was  but  a  short  hour,  what  she 
wanteth  of  time,  that  she  hath  gotten  of  eternity  ;  and  ye  have 
to  rejoice  that  ye  have  now  some  plenishing  up  in  heaven." — 
Buiherford's  Lettei^  to  Lady  Kenmure,  January  15,  1629. 

"  I  have  heard  also,  madam,  that  your  child  is  removed ;  but 
to  have  or  want  is  best,  as  he  pleaseth.  AVhether  she  be  with 
you,  or  in  God's  keeping,  think  it  all  one ;  nay  think  it  the 
better  of  the  two  by  far,  that  she  is  with  him." — Letter  to  the 
same. 

"The  death  of  children,"  says  Dr.  Lawson,  "puts  a  final 
period  to  all  that  we  can  do  for  them ;  but  our  grief  on  this  oc- 
casion is  effectually  counterbalanced,  by  the  consciousness  that 
we  have  earnestly  endeavoured  to  do  what  lay  in  our  power  while 
they  were  with  us ;  especially  when  we  have  good  reason  to 
hope,  that  our  prayers  for  them  have  not  been  rejected,  and  that 
Divine  mercy  led  them  safe  through  life  and  death  to  a  world, 
from  whence  they  would  not  for  a  thousand  worlds  return. 
I  have  lost,  for  the  rest  of  my  time  in  this  world,  some  children 
whose  faces  I  always  beheld  with  pleasure ;  but  I  hope,  young 
as  they  were,  they  were  better  fitted  for  leaving  this  world  than 
I  am.  We  are  authorized  by  Scripture,  without  expecting  a 
revelation  from  God  respecting  their  state,  to  rejoice  in  the  hope 


200  CHILDREN    IN    HEAVEN. 

that  they  are  sleeping  In  Jesus,  and  living  with  him,  and  shall  be 
brought  with  him,  in  the  great  day  of  his  appearance." 

"  I  have  had  six  children,"  said  Mr.  Elliott,  "  and  I  bles,s 
God  for  his  free  grace,  they  are  all  with  Christ,  or  in  Christ ;  and 
my  mind  is  now  at  rest  concerning  them.  My  desire  was  that 
they  should  have  served  Christ  on  earth ;  but  if  God  will  choose 
to  have  them  serve  him  in  heaven,  I  have  nothing  to  object  to  it. 
His  will  be  done !" 

"  I  was  in  your  condition ;  I  had  but  two  children,  and  both 
are  dead  since  I  came  hither.  The  supreme  and  absolute  Former 
of  all  things  giveth  not  an  accovuit  of  any  of  his  matters.  The 
good  Husbandman  may  pluck  his  roses  and  gather  in  his  lilies 
at  midsummer,  and,  for  aught  I  dare  say,  in  the  beginning  of  the 
first  summer  month  ;  and  he  may  transplant  young  trees  out  of 
the  lower  ground  to  the  higher,  where  they  may  have  more  of 
the  sun,  and  more  free  air,  at  any  season  of  the  year.  What  is 
that  to  you  or  me  ?  The  goods  are  his  own.  The  Creator  of 
time  and  winds  did  a  merciful  injury  (if  I  dare  borrow  the  word) 
to  nature,  in  landing  the  passenger  so  early.  They  love  the  sea 
too  well,  who  complain  of  a  fair  wind  and  a  desirable  tide,  and 
a  speedy  coming  ashore ;  especially  a  coming  ashore,  in  that  land, 
where  all  the  inhabitants  have  everlasting  joy  upon  their  heads. 
He  cannot  be  too  early  in  heaven." — Rutherford's  Letter  to  Mrs. 
Taylor,  London,  1645. 

It  is  a  beautiful  thought  of  Archbishop  Leighton,  In  regard 
to  the  death  of  a  little  nephew,  that  departed  children  are  but 
gone  to  bed  a  little  sooner,  as  children  are  wont.  "  John,"  said 
he,  " is  but  g-one  an  hour  or  tMO  sooner  to  bed,  as  children  are 


CONSOLATION  ON  THE  DEATH  OF  INFANTS.  201 

used  to  do,  and  we  are  undressing  to  follow.  And  the  more  we 
put  oif  the  love  of  the  present  world,  and  all  things  superfluous 
beforehand,  we  shall  have  the  less  to  do  when  we  lie  down." 

Your  child,  though  dead,  is  still,  bereaved  parents,  yours. 
"  God  has  given  me  three  sons,"  writes  the  Rev.  Oliver  Hey  wood 
in  his  Meditations,  "  all  living,  only  the  youngest  lives  Avith  God, 
in  his  immediate  presence,  having  died  in  infancy  under  the 
covenant." 

"  Your  bairns  are  now  at  rest,  I  speak  to  you  and  to  your  wife, 
and  cause  her  to  read  this.  They  are  not  lost  to  you,  that  are 
laid  up  in  Christ's  treasury  in  heaven.  At  the  resurrection,  ye 
shall  meet  with  them ;  they  are  sent  before,  but  not  sent  away. 
Let  not  bairns  be  your  idols ;  for  God  will  be  jealous,  and  take 
away  the  idol,  because  he  is  greedy  of  your  love  wholly." — 
Rutherford's  Letter  to  John  Gordon,  of  Cardoncss. 

"  Take  no  heavier  lift  of  your  children  than  your  liord 
alloweth.  Give  them  room  beside  your  heart,  but  not  in  the 
yolk  of  your  heart  where  Christ  should  be  ;  for  then  they  are 
your  idols,  not  your  bairns.  If  your  Lord  should  take  any  of 
them  home  to  his  house,  before  the  storm  come  on,  take  it  well. 
The  owner  of  the  orchard  may  take  down  two  or  three  apples 
oif  his  own  trees,  before  midsummer,  and  ere  they  get  the  harvest 
sun;  and  it  would  not  be  seemly  that  his  servant  the  gardener 
should  chide  him  for  it.  Let  our  Lord  pluck  his  own  fruit  at 
any  season  he  pleaseth  ;  they  are  not  lost  to  you  ;  they  are  laid 
up  so  well,  as  that  they  are  coffered  in  heaven,  AA'here  our  Lord's 
best  jewels  lie." — Rutherford^ s  Letter  to  the  Lady  Gaitgirtli,  Sept. 
7,  1647. 

26 


202  CHILDREN    IN    HEAVEN. 

*'  I  sincerely  sympathize  with  you,"  says  Dr.  Erskine  to  a 
friend  who  had  lost  an  only  son,  "  in  your  heavy  trial.  I  liave 
drunk  deep  of  the  same  cup ;  of  nine  sons,  only  one  survives. 
From  what  I  repeatedly  felt,  I  can  form  an  idea  what  you  mii>it 
feel.  I  cannot,  I  dare  not  say,  "Weep  not.  Jesus  M^ept  at  the 
grave  of  Lazarus,  and  surely  he  allows  you  to  weep.  But  oh, 
let  hope  and  joy  mitigate  your  heaviness.  I  know  not  how  this 
shall  work  for  your  good,  but  it  is  enough  that  God  knows.  He 
that  said,  '  All  things  work  together  for  good  to  them  that  love 
God,'  excepts  not  from  this  promise  the  sorest  trial.  You  de- 
voted your  son  to  God ;  you  cannot  doubt  that  he  accepted  the 
surrender.  If  he  has  been  hid  in  the  chamber  of  the  grave 
from  the  evil  of  sin  and  the  evil  of  suffering,  let  not  your  eye 
be  evil  when  God  is  good.  What  you  chiefly  wished  for  him, 
and  prayed  on  his  behalf,  was  spiritual  and  heavenly  blessings. 
If  the  greatest  thing  you  wished  for  is  accomplished,  at  the  sea- 
son and  in  the  manner  that  infinite  Wisdom  saw  best,  refuse  not 
to  be  comforted.  You  know  not  what  work  and  what  joy  have 
been  waiting  for  him  in  that  other  world." 

"  Should  any  parent,"  says  Dr.  Chalmers,  "  feel  softened  by 
the  touching  remembrance  of  a  light  that  twinkled  a  few  short 
months  under  his  roof,  and  at  the  end  of  its  little  period  expired, 
we  cannot  think  that  we  venture  too  far  when  we  say,  that  he 
has  only  to  persevere  in  the  faith  and  in  the  following  of  tlie 
gospel,  and  that  very  light  will  again  shine  upon  him  in  heaven. 
The  blossom  which  withered  here  upon  its  stalk,  has  been  trans- 
planted there  to  a  place  of  endurance ;  and  it  will  there  gladden 
that  eye  which  now  Aveeps  out  the  agony  of  an  affection  that  lias 


CONSOLATION  ON  THE  DEATH  OF  INFANTS.  203' 

been  sorely  wounded ;  and  in  the  name  of  Him,  who  if  on  earth 
would  have  wept  along  with  them,  do  we  bid  all  believers  to 
sorrow  not,  even  as  others  who  have  no  hope,  but  to  take  com- 
fort in  the  thought  of  that  country  where  there  is  no  sorrow  and 
no  separation." 

GODLY   SUBMISSION. 

"  There  is  no  way  of  quieting  the  mind,  and  of  silencing  the 
heart  of  a  mother,  but  godly  submission.  The  readiest  way  for 
jjeace  and  consolation  to  clay  vessels  is,  that  it  is  a  stroke  of  the 
Potter  and  Former  of  all  things ;  and  since  the  holy  Lord  hath 
loosed  the  grip,  when  it  was  fastened  sure  upon  your  part,  I 
know  that  your  light,  and  I  hope  that  your  heart  also,  will  yield. 
It  is  not  safe  to  be  at  pulling  and  drawing  with  the  omnipotent 
Lord.  Let  the  pull  go  with  him,  for  he  is  strong ;  and  say, 
'  Thy  will  be  done  on  earth  as  it  is  in  heaven.'  " — Rutherford's 
Letter  to  Mrs.  Craig,  on  the  death  of  her  son. 

Rev.  i.  17,  18.  "  Fear  not ;  I  am  he  that  liveth  and  was  dead; 
and  behold,  I  am  alive  for  evermore.  Amen ;  and  have  the  keys 
of  hell  and  of  death.'' 

This  consideration  should  repress,  not  only  the  anxieties  which 
we  feel  in  regard  to  the  future,  but  also  the  regrets  which  we  are 
too  apt  to  cherish  respecting  the  bereavemejits  with  which  we 
have  already  been  visited.  It  is  not  less  instructive  and  consol- 
ing, when  viewed,  in  reference  to  the  death  of  relatives  and 
friends,  than  when  it  is  considered  in  respect  to  our  own  pros- 
pect of  dissolution.  For  it  teaches  us,  that  the  duration  of  each 
man's  existence  here  is  determined  by  the  Redeemer ;  that  it  be* 


204  CHILDREN    IN    HEAVEN. 

longs  to  him  to  appoint  a  longer  or  shorter  period  to  each,  as  lie 
Avill ;  and  in  doing  so,  we  have  reason  to  be  satisfied,  that  he 
determines  according  to  the  dictates  of  infallible  wisdom,  al- 
though the  reasons  of  his  procedure  must  necessarily  be  to  us, 
for  the  present,  inscrutable.  AVe  cannot  tell  why  one  is  removed 
in  infancy,  another  in  boyhood,  a  third  in  the  prime  of  manly 
vigour,  and  a  fourth  reserved  to  the  period  of  old  age  ;  and, 
above  all,  why  the  most  promising  in  talent  and  character,  and 
the  most  useful  in  their  several  stations,  are  taken  away,  while 
others  of  inferior  worth  are  often  left  behind ;  but  suffice  it  for 
us,  that  this  happens  not  by  chance,  neither  is  it  the  result  of 
caprice  or  carelessness,  but  flows  from  that  unerring  wisdom, 
whose  counsels  are  formed  on  a  view  of  all  possible  relations 
and  consequences,  whether  as  to  the  visible  or  invisible,  the 
present  or  the  future  state  of  being.  The  power  of  death  be- 
ing in  the  hands  of  the  Redeemer,  the  duration  of  human  life 
is,  in  every  instance,  determined  by  him ;  and  none,  therefore, 
ought  to  entertain  the  thought,  either  that  death  is,  in  one  case, 
unduly  premature,  or,  in  another,  unduly  delayed.  None  live, 
either  for  a  longer  or  a  shorter  period  than  infinite  *Mdsdom  has 
assigned  to  them ;  and  as  reason  teaches  that  to  his  appoint- 
ment we  must  submit,  however  unwilling,  it  being  irresistible, 
and  far  beyond  our  control, — so,  as  Christians,  we  should  learn 
to  acquiesce  in  it  cheerfully,  as  the  appointment  of  one  who  can- 
not err.  That  the  determined  hour  had  arrived,  is  a  reflection 
that  should  serve  to  banish  every  useless  regret ;  but  that  this 
hour  was  fixed  by  One  in  whose  wisdom  we  confide,  and  of 
whose  interest  in  our  wclfiire  we  have  the  strongest  assurance,  ia 


CONSOLATION  ON  THE  DEATH  OF  INFANTS.  205 

a  thought  which  should  not  only  induce  resignation,  but  inspire 
comfort  and  peace. 

For,  when  death  does  seize  any  of  our  friends,  whether  in  the 
ordinary  course  of  disease  and  decay,  or  by  violence  or  accident, 
how  consolatory  to  the  mourning  relatives  is  the  thought,  that  it 
came  at  the  bidding  of  the  Saviour,  and  that  it  has  not  arrived 
without  his  sanction  and  appointment !  Otherwise  we  might  be 
apt  to  reflect,  with  unavailing  regret,  on  certain  needless  ex- 
posures that  might  have  been  avoided,  certain  remedies  whose 
virtues  might  have  been  tried,  certain  names  high  in  professional 
reputation,  who  might  have  been  consulted ;  or  to  dwell,  with 
painful  self-reproach,  on  certain  accidents  that  might  have  been 
prevented,  and  injuries  which  timely  care  might  have  cured. 
The  mind  will  often  busy  itself  with  such  reflections  after  the 
loss  of  a  near  and  dear  friend  j  but  the  very  intensity  of  feeling 
which  is  thus  called  forth,  is  a  sufficient  proof  that  any  careless- 
ness or  negligence  that  may  have  been  manifested,  was  far,  very 
far,  from  being  designed  or  wilful.  And  although,  where 
criminal  negligence  has  been  shown,  no  doctrine,  however  con- 
solatory, can  prevent  regret,  or  should  repress  feelings  of  peniten- 
tial sorrow  ;  yet,  in  other  cases,  where  the  heart  bears  witness  to 
its  own  interest  in  the  beloved  object,  the  doctrine  of  Christ's 
absolute  command  over  the  keys  of  death,  and  the  consideration 
that  our  friend  was  summoned  away  by  a  deliberate  act  of  his 
sovereign  wisdom,  may  well  assuage  the  grief  which  such  reflec- 
tions on  the  commencement,  progress,  and  treatment  of  the 
disease,  are  wont  to  awaken  in  the  most  sensitive  and  aflection- 
ate  minds. — Comfort  in  AJUction,  hy  James  Buchanan,  D.D. 


®n  t\t  gcat^  of  an  S«fattt. 

CUNNINGHAM. 

Sweet  babe,  she  glanced  into  our  world  to  see 

A  sample  of  our  misery, 

Then  turned  away  her  languid  eye 

To  drop  a  tear  or  two,  and  die. 

Sweet  babe,  she  tasted  of  life's  bitter  cup, 

Refused  to  drink  the  potion  up ! 

But  turned  her  little  head  aside, 

Disgusted  with  the  taste,  and  died. 

Sweet  babe,  she  listened  for  a  while  to  hear 

Our  mortal  griefs,  then  turned  her  ear 

To  angels'  harps  and  songs,  and  cried 

To  join  their  notes  celestial,  sighed  and  died. 

Sweet  babe  no  more,  but  seraph  now, 
Before  the  throne  behold  her  bow, 
To  heavenly  joys  her  spirit  flies. 
Blest  in  the  triumph  of  the  skies, 
Adores  the  grace  that  brought  her  there 
Without  a  wish, — without  a  care, — 

206 


ON  THE  DEATH  OF  AN  INFANT.         207 

That  washed  her  soul  in  Calvary's  stream, 
That  shortened  life's  distressing  dream. 
Short  pain, — short  grief, — dear  babe,  was  thine. 
Now  joys  eternal  and  divine. 

Yes,  thou  art  fled,  and  saints  a  welcome  sing. 
Thine  infant  spirit  soars  on  angel's  wing: 
Our  dark  aifection  should  have  hoped  thy  stay, 
The  voice  of  God  has  called  his  child  away. 
Like  Samuel,  early  in  the  temple  found. 
Sweet  rose  of  Sharon,  plant  of  holy  ground. 
Oh!  more  than  Samuel  blest,  to  thee  'tis  given. 
The  God  he  served  on  earth,  to  serve  in  heaven. 


ANONYMOUS. 

O  mouenee!  who,  with  tender  love, 
Hast  wept  beside  some  infant  grave, 

Hast  thou  not  sought  a  Friend  above, 
Who  died  thy  little  one  to  save? 

Then  lift  thy  weary  weeping  eye 
Above  the  waves  that  round  thee  swell: 

Is  not  thy  darling  safe  on  high? 
Canst  thou  not  whisper,  It  is  well  ? 

Yes,  it  is  well — though  never  more 
His  infant  form  to  earth  be  given ; 

He  rests  where  sin  and  grief  are  o'er. 

And  thou  shalt  meet  thy  ehild  in  heaven. 

208 


%t    fsmplljs    of   |cs„B. 


MARGARET  JUNKIN. 

The  sympathy  of  Jesus — who 

That  ever  sobbed  one  sorrowing  moan 
On  some  kind  bosom,  fondly  true, 

Some  human  bosom  like  our  own, 
And  felt  how  much  those  lips  close  pressed, 

That  hand  close  clasped  could  calm  our  fears, 
Can  turn  to  this  far  tenderer  breast. 

Without  a  gush  of  thankful  tears? 

The  earthly  heart  on  which  we  lean 

May  have  its  separate  griefs  to  bear, 
Griefs,  though  unspoken  and  unseen. 

Yet  rankling  all  the  deeper  there. 
Its  faltering  strength  may  scarce  sustain 

The  torture  of  its  own  distress, 
And  still  we  add  our  burdened  pain, 

Unconscious  how  the  weight  may  press. 

But  He  whose  human  feet  have  trod 

Earth's  hills  and  valleys — He  who  knew 

27  209 


210  CHILDREN    IN    HEAVEN. 

No  sympathy  but  that  of  God, 

Though  linked  with  all  that  craved  it,  too- 
Knows  all  our  yearning,  all  our  need, 

Yet  strong  to  bear  our  utmost  smart — 
He  loves  to  feel  the  throbbing  head 

Close  laid  against  his  pitying  heart. 

To  think  that  on  the  throne  of  thrones 

He  wears  our  lowly  nature  still ! 
To  think  that  midst  the  loftiest  tones 

That  through  the  eternal  mansions  thrill. 
Earth's  humblest  pleader  he  will  hear. 

Though  only  tears  his  anguish  tell ; 
That  sobbing  voice  falls  on  his  ear 

More  sweet  than  Gabriel's  ever  fell. 

Then,  sorrowing  spirit,  take  the  grief 

Thou  ne'er  to  mortal  couldst  disclose, 
And  he  will  give  thee  sure  relief. 

Touched  with  the  feeling  of  thy  woes ; 
And  thou  shalt  understand  how  sweet, 

How  filled  with  more  than  human  bliss, 
How  dear — how  tender — how  complete 

The  sympathy  of  Jesus  is ! 


\l^t    |00tr    l^tp^erb. 


MARIA  W.  LOWELL, 

When  on  my  ear  your  loss  was  knelled, 

And  tender  sympathy  upburst, 
A  little  rill  from  memory  swelled, 

Which  once  had  soothed  my  bitter  thirst. 

And  I  was  fain  to  bear  to  you 
Some  portion  of  its  mild  relief, 

That  it  might  be  as  healing  dew, 
To  steal  some  fever  from  your  grief. 

After  our  child's  untroubled  breath 
Up  to  the  Father  took  its  way, 

And  on  our  home  the  shade  of  death. 
Like  a  long  twilight  haunting  lay; 

And  friends  came  round  with  us  to  weep, 
Her  little  spirit's  swift  remove, 

This  story  of  the  Alpine  sheep 
Was  told  to  us  by  one  we  love: 

"They  in  the  valley's  sheltering  care 
Soon  crop  the  meadow's  tender  prime, 

211 


212  CHILDREN    IN    HEAVEN. 

And  when  the  sod  grows  brown  and  bare, 
The  Shepherd  strives  to  make  them  climb 

"  To  airy  shelves  of  pasture  green, 

That  hang  along  the  mountain's  side, 
Where  grass  and  flowers  together  lean, 

And  down  through  mists  the  sunbeams  slide. 

"But  naught  can  tempt  the  timid  things 
The  steep  and  rugged  path  to  try. 
Though  sweet  the  Shepherd  calls  and  sings, 
And  seared  below  the  pastures  lie, 

"Till  in  his  arms  the  lambs  he  takes. 
Along  the  dizzy  verge  to  go; 
Then,  heedless  of  the  rifts  and  breaks, 
They  follow  on  o'er  rock  and  snow. 

"And  in  those  pastures  lifted  fair. 

More  dewy  soft  than  lowland  mead, 
The  shepherd  drops  his  tender  care. 
And  sheep  and  lambs  together  feed." 

This  parable,  by  nature  breathed. 
Blew  on  me  as  the  south  wind  free 

O'er  frozen  brooks,  that  float,  unsheathed 
From  icy  thraldom,  to  the  sea. 

A  blissful  vision  throug-h  the  nig-ht 
"Would  all  my  happy  senses  sway, 


THE    GOOD    SHEPHERD.  213 

Of  the  Good  Shepherd  on  the  height, 
Or  climbing  up  the  stony  way, 

Holding  our  little  lamb  asleep; 

And  like  the  burden  of  the  sea 
Sounded  that  voice  along  the  deep, 

Saying,  "Arise  and  follow  me." 


LEROY  J.  HALSEY,  D.D.* 

The  next  example  which,  we  select  for  a  few  remarks,  is  the 
child  of  David  and  Bathsheba.  It  is  the  fnllest  narrative  of  a 
dying  infant  in  the  Bible.  The  tender  bud  was  smitten,  and 
withered  away  ere  it  bloomed.  The  little  light  was  extinguished, 
just  as  it  began  to  shed  its  cheering  beams  over  an  earthly 
household.  But  small  as  it  was,  it  was  an  event  sufficient  to 
send  desolation  and  penitential  grief  into  the  most  exalted  fam- 
ily circle  of  the  land. 

The  child  was  sick,  and  the  stern  warrior  king,  whose  heart 
had  never  yielded  in  the  hour  of  battle,  fasted  and  wept,  and 
lay  all  night  upon  the  bare  earth,  beseeching  God  to  spare  it. 
But  when,  at  the  end  of  seven  days,  it  died,  he  went  into  the 
house  of  the  Lord  and  worshij)ped.  He  comforted  his  bleeding 
heart  with  those  precious  words  of  faith  and  hope  which  have 
since  cheered  so  many  others  in  affliction.  "  Isow  that  he  is 
dead,  wherefore  should  I  fast?  Can  I  bring  him  back  again? 
I  shall  go  to  him,  but  he  shall  not  return  to  me." 

This  little  one,  though  born  in  sin,  was  taken  home  to  God. 
The  early  lost  was  early  saved.     Washed  in  a  Saviour's  blood, 

*From  "Life  Pictures  from  the  Bible" — a  charming  book,  published  by  the  Pres- 
bytorian  Board  of  Publication. 

2U 


THE     DYING    INFANT.  215 

and  clothed  in  a  Saviour's  righteousness,  it  was  soon  introduced 
into  that  heavenly  kingdom  of  which  he  so  often  spake  as  the 
loved  abode  of  little  children.  It  had  not  sinned  after  the  sim- 
ilitude of  Adam's  transgression.  So  that,  where  sin  abounded, 
grace  did  much  more  abound.  It  had  committed  no  actual  sin  ; 
and  yet  it  was  wholly  born  in  sin.  Its  death  was  a  judgment 
and  punishment  from  God.  It  was  smitten  of  God  and  died  on 
account  of  the  sins  of  its  parents.  It  was  done  publicly  before 
the  sun,  that  all  Israel  might  know  that  the  thing  which  David 
had  done  had  displeased  the  Lord.  The  king  was  humbled  and 
chastened,  and  made  a  holier  man  by  the  stroke.  The  child  was 
taken  from  the  evil  to  come.  Thus  the  death  and  salvation  of 
all  AA^ho  die  in  infancy.  The  whole  doctrine  of  the  Bible  on  tl)e 
subject  of  the  infant  dead,  is  briefly  comprehended  in  this: 
They  died  because  Adam  sinned ;  they  live  again  because  Jesus 
died. 

Nothing  more  impressively  proclaims  the  fallen  condition  of 
our  race,  and  the  sad  inroads  of  sin,  than  an  infant's  grave. 
'Vithout  the  Bible,  no  mystery  would  be  greater  tlian  the  suffer- 
ing and  death  of  infancy.  Nature  has  nothing  to  account  fci 
such  a  disaster.  It  is  in  the  very  face  of  all  that  is  natural. 
AYliy  should  the  pure  and  fresh  young  rosebud  be  blasted  in  its 
opening?  Why  should  the  kindly  culture  and  beautiful  flower 
wither  even  as  it  blooms  ?  Why  should  a  light  just  kindled  go 
out  so  soon  ;  a  life  just  begun  so  suddenly  cease?  We  miglit 
expect  the  sear  leaf  of  autumn  to  fall,  the  aged  oak  of  the  forest 
to  decay,  the  hoary  head  of  tlie  patriarch  to  be  bowed  down. 
But  why  sliould  the  most  loved  and  cherislied  plant  in  all  the 


216  CHILDREN    IN    HEAVEN. 

garden  die  ?  Why  must  this  most  precioas  jewel  of  my  heart — 
this  beautiful  boy — and  this  angel  of  my  household — the  loved 
and  loving  daugliter — be  snatched  away? 

"'Twas  bright,  'twas  heavenly,  but  'tis  past ! 

Oh  !  ever  thus  from  childhood's  hour, 

I've  seen  my  fondest  hopes  decay  ; 
I  never  loved  a  tree  or  flower. 

But  'twas  the  first  to  fade  away. 
I  never  nursed  a  dear  gazelle. 

To  glad  me  with  its  soft  black  eye, 
But  when  it  came  to  know  me  well, 

And  love  me,  it  was  sure  to  die !" 

Surely  death  never  appears  so  unnatural,  and  but  for  the  Bible 
so  mysterious,  as  when  the  blooming  infant  dies.  And  yet  it  is 
estimated  that  about  half  our  race  die  in  infancy.  Ah !  what  a 
destroyer  is  death  !  What  desolations  hath  he  wrought  in  the 
earth !  What  a  harvest  of  tears  and  of  broken  hearts  has  lie 
been  reaping !  How  many  hills  and  valleys  has  he  planted 
thick  with  little  graves !  The  whole  earth  has  been  but  a 
Bochim — a  valley  of  tears  for  the  infant  dead.  Tears  have 
never  flowed  oftener  and  more  freely  than  when  they  have 
fallen  around  the  infant's  sufferino;  bed  and  new  made  g-rave. 

"  Leaves  have  their  time  to  fall, 

And  flowers  to  wither  at  the  north  wind's  breath, 
And  stars  to  set ;  but  all, 

Thou  hast  all  seasons  for  thine  own,  0  death !" 

But  blessed  be  the  name  of  the  Lord,  there  is  consolation  in 
the  Bible,  and  relief  in  heaven,  for  all  these  tears.     There  may 


THE    DYING    INFANT.  217 

be  joy  in  the  desolate  dwelling  even  now ;  for  there  is  hope  in 
tliis  early  doom  of  childhood,  the  same  that  sustained  the  peni- 
tent David.  "  He  may  not  return  to  me ;  but  I  shall  go  to 
him."  The  most  precious  belief  of  the  church  of  God  is  the 
salvation  of  the  infant  dead.  Perhaps  the  greatest  of  all  the 
triumphs  of  the  cross  of  Christ  will  be  found  at  last  to  be  this, 
that  it  has  saved  half  our  race  in  a  body,  by  calling  them  away 
from  the  world  in  infancy.  Perhaps  the  greatest  joy  that  is  now 
felt  in  heaven,  in  view  of  all  things  done  on  earth,  is  caused  by 
this  one  event,  which  creates  the  deepest,  widest  wave  of  sorrow 
here,  the  infant's  death.  For  if  there  is  joy  in  the  presence  of 
the  angels  of  God  over  one  sinner  that  repenteth,  can  we  doubt 
that  there  is  joy  there,  at  the  happy  release  of  each  little  sufferer, 
as  they  pass  from  death's  iron  gates,  one  by  one,  into  the  heavens, 
to  be  for  ever  blest  on  the  bosom  of  their  God  ?  "  Precious  in 
the  sight  of  the  Lord  is  the  death  of  his  saints."  How  beauti- 
ful and  glorious  must  be  the  infant  dead  ! 

"Oh,  when  a  mother  meets  on  high, 
The  babe  she  lost  in  infancy, 
Hath  she  not  then,  for  pains  and  fears, 
The  day  of  woe,  the  watchful  night. 
For  all  her  sorrows,  all  her  tears. 
An  over  payment  of  delight  ?"* 

With  the  word  of  God  in  our  hands,  and  the  hope  of  heaven 
in  our  hearts,  there  is  no  death  on  earth  so  blessed,  so  consola- 
tory, so  hopeful  as  the  death  of  a  little  child.  An  infinite  gain 
to   the  child,  it  often  becomes  an  instrument  of  the  greatest 

«g  »  R.  Southej. 


218  CHILDREN    IN    HEAVEN. 

spiritual  blessings  to  the  parent.  Many  a  mother  will  praise 
God  for  ever,  that  the  death  of  her  darling  babe  was  made  the 
means  of  her  greater  sanctification ;  or  it  may  be  of  her  conver- 
sion to  God.  When  the  good  Shepherd  would  draw  his  wan- 
dering sheej)  away  from  danger,  and  gather  them  safely  into  his 
fold,  he  has  no  more  effective  mode,  than  to  take  the  little  lambs 
up  in  his  arms.  Then  the  sheep  will  follow  him.  So  he  wins 
our  worthless  hearts.  He  takes  our  lambs  away.  He  allures 
to  brighter  worlds,  by  removing  our  brightest  objects  of  affection 
here.  Where  our  treasure  is,  there  will  our  hearts  be  also.  He 
cuts  the  ties  which  bind  us  down,  that  our  affections  may  be  free 
to  aspire  up\Mird  to  things  above.  How  near  the  gate  of  heaven 
seems,  when  we  know  that  our  children  have  just  passed  through 
it !  And  how  precious  the  Saviour  seems,  Avhen  we  feel  that 
our  lambs  are  in  his  bosom  !  The  ties  which  bound  our  hearts 
to  earth,  will  henceforth  bind  them  to  heaven.  Who  would  not 
follow  the  good  Shepherd  to  that  house  of  many  mansions, 
where  he  has  been  gathering  these  children  of  our  love? 
AVhere  is  the  Christian  parent,  who  has  the  precious,  and  the  un- 
speakable honour,  of  a  child  ascended  to  God,  who  has  not 
thereby  been  made  to  drink  in  more  of  the  beauty  and  power  of 
the  gospel  ?  And  when  the  image  of  that  sainted  one  has  been 
obliterated  here,  by  lapse  of  time,  from  all  other  hearts,  how 
will  it  still  linger,  like  the  fragrance  of  crushed  flowers,  around 
his  own  !  And  though  years  may  pass,  and  distance  intervene, 
he  will  still  love  to  breathe  forth  the  tenderest  sympathies  of  the 
sold  in  memory  of  the  infant's  dying  couch  and  lowly  tomb. — 


THE    DYING    INFANT.  219 

I  saw  him  oft  at  play, 

As  no  more  I  see  liim  now. 
With  the  roses  on  his  cheek. 

And  the  lily  on  his  brow; 
His  lisping  notes  so  sweet 

And  his  laugh  so  full  of  joy, 
As  the  sjiarkle  of  his  eye 

Told  the  merry-hearted  boy. 

I  stood  beside  the  bed, 

Where  the  little  sufferer  lay, 
Long  struggling  with  disease 

Till  he  breathed  bis  life  away. 
No  rose  was  on  his  cheek  then. 

No  sparkle  in  his  eye  ; 
Oh,  how  it  crushed  my  heart 

For  the  darling  one  to  die ! 

In  a  robe  of  snowy  white. 

We  adorned  him  for  the  tomb. 
And  laid  upon  his  breast, 

A  sweet  rosebud  half  in  bloom  ; 
A  smile  of  beauty  lingered 

Upon  a  face  so  fair. 
It  seemed  as  if  an  angel 

Were  softly  slumbering  there. 

We  laid  him  down  to  rest. 

In  the  consecrated  ground. 
When  little  ones  before  him. 

Were  sleeping  all  around; 
Amid  the  summer  flowers, 

Beneath  the  bending  skiea 
We  left  him  in  his  beauty,  . 

Till  God  shall  bid  h'.m  rise. 


220  CIIILDREN    IN    HEAVEN. 

I  saw  him  once  again, 

In  the  vision  of  the  night. 
He  seemed  a  little  cherub. 

In  his  robe  of  snowy  white  j 
A  harp  was  in  his  hand, 

A  garland  on  his  brow, 
For  evermore  an  angel, 

Oh,  such  I  see  him  now  ! 


THOMAS  WARD. 

Thou  bright  and  starlike  spirit ! 

That  in  my  visions  wild, 
I  see,  mid  heaven's  seraphic  host, 

Oh !    canst  thou  be  my  child  ? 

Our  hopes  of  thee  were  lofty. 
But  have  we  cause  to  grieve? 

Oh !    could  our  fondest,  proudest  wish 
Another  fate  conceive? 

The  little  weeper,  tearless, 

The  sinner  snatched  from  sin; 

The  babe  to  more  than  manhood  grown 
Ere  childhood  did  begin. 

And  I,  thy  earthly  teacher. 

Would  blush  thy  power  to  see; 

Thou  art  to  me  a  parent  now, 
And  I  a  child  to  thee  ! 

What  bliss  is  born  of  sorrow ; 
'Tis  never  sent  in  vain, 

221 


222  CUILDREX     IN     HEAVEN. 

The  heavenly  surgeon  maims  to  save, 
He  gives  no  useless  pain. 

Our  God,  to  call  us  homeward 

His  only  Son  sent  do^\Ti, 
And  now  still  more  to  tempt  our  hearts, 

Has  taken  up  our  own. 


RICHARD  C.  TRENCH. 

We  walked  within  the  churchyard  bounds, 

My  little  boy  and  I; 
He  laughing,  running  happy  rounds, 

I  pacing  mournfully. 

"Nay,  child,  it  is  not  well,"  I  said, 
"  Among  the  graves  to  shout ; 
To  laugh  and  play  among  the  dead, 
And  make  this  noisy  rout." 

A  moment  to  my  side  he  clung, 

Leaving  his  merry  play, 
A  moment  stilled  his  joyous  tongue. 

Almost  as  hushed  as  they  : 

Then,  quite  forgetting  the  command, 

In  life's  exulting  burst 
Of  early  glee,  let  go  my  hand, 

Joyous  as  at  the  first. 

And  now  I  did  not  check  him  more, 
For,  tanglit  by  N;'.turc's  face. 


22-4  CHILDREN    IN    HEAVEN. 

I  had  grown  wiser  than  before, 
Even  in  that  moment's  space  j 

She  spread  no  funeral-pall  above 

That  patch  of  churchyard  ground, 

But  the  same  azure  vault  of  love 
As  hung  o'er  all  around. 

And  white  clouds  o'er  that  spot  would  pass 

As  freely  as  elsewhere ; 
The  sunshine  on  no  other  grass 

A  richer  hue  might  wear. 

And  formed  from  out  that  very  mould. 
In  which  the  dead  vdid  lie, 

The  daisy  with  its  eye  of  gold, 
Looked  up  into  the  sky. 

The  rook  was  wheeling  over  head, 
Nor  hastened  to  be  gone — 

The  small  bird  did  its  glad  notes  shed, 
Perched  on  a  gray  head-stone. 

And  God,  I  said,  would  never  give 
This  light  upon  the  earth, 

Nor  bid  in  childhood's  heart  to  live 
These  springs  of  gushing  mirth — • 

If  our  one  wisdom  were  to  mourn. 
And  linger  with  the  dead ; 


A    WALK    IN    A    CHUKCHYARD.  225 

To  nurse,  as  wisest,  thoughts  forlorn 
Of  worm  and  earthy  bed. 

Oh  no !    the  glory  earth  puts  on, 

The  child's  unchecked  delight, 
Both  witness  to  a  triumph  won. 

If  we  but  read  aright: 

A  triumph  won  o'er  sin  and  death. 

From  these  the  Saviour  saves; 
And,  like  a  happy  infant,  Faith 

Can  play  among  the  graves. 


29 


^Ijc  little  ^il^rrm. 

WILLIAM  C.  RICHARDS. 

I  SAW  a  little  maiden  come, 
A-sudden,  to  that  river, 

At  whose  dark  brink  bold  lips  close  dumb, 
And  stout  hearts  quail  and  shiver — 
The  marge  of  Death's  cold  river. 

Down  to  the  stream  the  little  maid 
AYas  led  by  white-robed  angels ; 

Around  her  golden  harps  they  played, 
And  sung  those  sweet  evangels 
Sung  only  by  the  angels. 

Five  days  upon  the  brink  she  lay 

Of  that  appalling  river; 
And  death  shot  arrows  every  day, 

From  his  insatiate  quiver, 

At  her  beside  the  river. 

Oh !   but  I  stood  amazed  to  hear 
Her  wan  lips  sweetly  saying, 
"Don't  pray  to  keep  me,  mother  dear, 

226 


THE    LITTLE     PILGRIM.  227 

I  must  not  here  be  staying;" 
Such  words  of  wonder,  saying: 

"Mother,  I  do  not  fear  to  die. 
My  sins  are  all  forgiven ; 
And  shining  angels  hovering  nigh, 
Will  bear  my  soul  to  heaven, 
Through  God's  dear  Lamb  forgiven." 

And  then,  from  her  fond  mother's  breast. 

She  plunged  into  that  river; 
Her  fluttering  pulses  sunk  to  rest, 

Her  heart  was  still  for  ever, 

Her  soul  beyond  the  river. 

Now  when  my  children  wait  to  hear. 

Some  tender,  touching  story, 
I  tell  them  how,  without  a  fear. 

She  died,  and  went  to  glory; 

And  tears  flow  with  the  story. 


GEORGE  W.  BETHUNE,  D.D.* 

A  MOST  ungrateful  wi'ong  would  be  done  to  the  glorious  plan 
of  salvation  by  free  grace  through  Jesus  Christ,  if  we  did  not 
remark  how  rich,  beyond  all  comparison,  are  the  comforts  which 
it  affords  in  the  death  of  little  ones.  No  other  scheme  offers  us 
any  reasonable  hope. 

Heathenism,  cruel  to  all,  is  especially  cruel  toward  infants. 
The  apostle  (Rom.  i.  31)  characterizes  the  nations  who  have  de- 
parted from  the  true  God,  as  "  without  natural  affection ;"  and  in 
nothing  is  this  more  clearly  seen,  than  their  unnatural  treatment  of 
their  helpless  offspring.  The  Old  Testament  Scriptures  often 
allude  to  the  custom  of  sacrificing  young  children,  prevalent 
among  the  eastern  idolaters.  Heathenism,  like  all  superstitions, 
is  a  spirit  of  fear ;  and  the  parent  offered  the  life  of  his  child, 
as  the  most  acceptable  proof  he  could  give  of  devotion  to  the 
demon  he  worshipped.  Thus  the  prophet  Micah  makes  Balaam 
say  to  Balak  :  "  Shall  I  give  my  first-born  for  my  transgression, 
the  fruit  of  my  body  for  the  sin  of  my  soul  ?"  (Micah  vi.  7.) 
Nor  was  it  confined  to  the  Syrian  abominations,  but  can  be  traced 
as  accompanying  idolatry,  more  or  less,  everywhere  ;  in  Africa, 

*  From  "  Early  Lost,  Early  Saved." 
228 


CHILDREN    AND    THE    GOSPEL.  229 

Asia,  and  Europe  to  the  farthest  north,  throughout  Polynesia, 
and  among  different  races  on  the  American  continent. 

Infanticide  was,  and  is,  yet  more  prevalent.  Even  among  the 
most  polished  nations  of  antiquity,  the  exposure  of  new-born 
infants,  for  various  reasons,  was  so  common,  that  an  historian  of 
the  second  century  after  Christ  (-3]lian*)  praises  the  Thebans  as 
singular  in  having  a  law  against  it.  The  rules  of  several  states 
sternly  insisted  upon  the  destruction  of  such  babes  as  did  not 
promise,  from  their  physical  structure,  good  servico  to  a  warlike 
people.  Philosophers  in  high  repute  to  this  day,  as  masters  of 
various  science,  embodied  the  horrid  expedient  with  their  politi- 
cal theories,  and  advocated  the  murder  of  unborn  infants  as  a 
check  upon  population. f  The  massacre  of  the  new-born  male 
Israelites  by  their  Egyptian  masters,  was  in  perfect  accordance 
with  national  policy  at  the  time,  revolting  as  it  appears  to  us. 
Some  of  the  Pacific  Islands  were  nearly  depopulated  by  such 
inhuman  practices,  before  the  arrival  of  Christian  teachers  among 
them.  Throughout  India,  where  superstition  makes  the  slaughter 
of  a  brute  impiety,  human  offspring  are  doomed  without  pity  ; 
and  the  Hindoo  woman  counts  it  mercy  to  save,  by  immediate 
assassination,  her  female  child  from  her  mother's  misery.  The 
Chinese,  wonderful  as  their  civilization  is  in  many  respects, 
scruple  not  at  a  wholesale  destruction  of  children  they  deem 
superfluous ;  the  crime  is  never  punished ;  the  government 
connive  at  it,  and  the  police  in  some  cities  assist  in  it     Moham- 

*"  Various  Histories,  ii.  7. 

t  Plato,  Republic,  v.  C.  Aristotle,  Politics,  vii.  15,  16.  Pliny,  Natural  History, 
xxxis.  27. 


230  CHILDREN    IN    HEAVEN. 

med  condemned  it  as  existing  among  the  more  ancient  Arabs  : 
but  the  sun-brightened  waters  of  the  Bosphorus,  and  the  fruitful 
Nile,  engulf  very  many  victims,  whom  no  law  defends  from 
parental  cruelty. 

No  classic  philosophy  could  discover  blessing  for  infants  after 
death ;  nor  was  it  consistent  with  any,  even  the  best,  of  their 
theories.  If,  indeed,  the  spirit  of  the  babe  survived,  there  was 
no  alternative  to  the  belief,  that  its  immortality  would  be  the  same 
state  of  undeveloped  faculties  in  which  it  left  the  world.  Hence 
tliey  say  nothing  of  the  infant's  future  being  beyond  this  life  ;* 
or  suppose  it  to  be  a  scarcely  conscious  existence  among  the 
sombre  shadows  of  an  eternal  twilight.f 

Revelation  alone  defends  the  life  of  the  little  one  by  making 

*In  the  apologue  of  Alcinus,  the  most  remarkable  passage  in  classic  writings  re- 
specting futurity,  Plato  says,  what  Eros  told  of  infants  is  not  worth  relating.  Plato, 
Republic,  x. 

f  The  popular  sentiment  was  not  more  cheering.  We  have  many  epitaphs  and  sad 
elegies  on  the  death  of  children,  showing  the  deep  sorrow  of  bereaved  parents ;  but 
none  in  the  classic  anthologies  breathe  "  a  lively  hope."  One  of  the  most  touching 
(from  the  Greek  of  Leonidas  of  Tarentum)  is  subjoined ;  and  how  exquisitely  mourn- 
ful is  the  desire  of  the  broken-hearted  mother,  for  whom  life  has  no  remaining  charm, 
to  join  her  child  in  "  eternal  night !" 

Unhappy  child  !     Unhappy  I,  wliose  tears 
Rain  on  the  urn  that  hides  thy  blighted  years! 
Thou'rt  early  gone,  Amyntas — I  alone, 
Bereft  of  thee,  through  life's  long  pang  must  groan  : 
Disgusted  with  each  morn's  returning  light, 
Yearning  for  refuge  in  eternal  night. 
Sweet  spirit,  guide  thy  mother  where  thou  art : 
There  only  can  be  still  my  aching  heart. 

{Bi/  the  Author,  from  the  Anthology.) 


CHILDREN    AND    THE    GOSPEL.  231 

it  sacred  to  God ;  under  the  Old  Testament  in  the  promise  of  a 
Messiah,  under  the  New  in  the  blessing  of  Christ ;  and  the  same 
grace,  which  guards  its  cradle-helplessness  from  the  unnatural 
hands  of  enemies  here,  promises  the  full  redemption  of  its  inno- 
cent spirit  from  the  malice  of  its  great  enemy  hereafter.  Bless 
God,  ye  affectionate  parents,  whether  your  children  are  in  your 
arms  or  in  a  Christ-consecrated  grave,  that  we  live  not  in  the 
regions  of  the  shadow  of  death,  but  under  the  peaceful,  holy, 
hope-giving  sunlight  of  the  gospel ;  which  came  in  the  person 
of  a  nursling  Babe,  on  the  bosom  of  a  humble,  pious  mother, 
(whom  no  popish  folly  shall  keep  us  from  calling,  after  angelic 
example  and  according  to  prophetic  command,)  the  "  blessed  " 
Virgin ! 

If  we  in  any  degree  relax  our  hold  on  the  doctrine  of  free 
grace,  we  lose  the  strength  of  this  precious  comfort.  The  infant 
has  no  promise  of  salvation,  but  through  the  gracious  tenderness 
of  Jesus. 

Thus,  however  edifying  the  commanded  Christian  rite  of 
baptism  is,  if  we  confound  it,  as  many  have  done,  with  spiritual 
regeneration,  and  make  the  outward  washing  the  necessary 
medium  of  the  inward,  renewing  grace,  a  babe  dying  before  it 
can  ask  the  holy  washing  by  its  own  faith,  is  rendered  dependent 
for  its  preparation  to  enter  heaven,  upon  the  fidelity  of  others  ; 
and  so  •  the  greater  part  of  our  mortal  race  are,  by  no  fault  of 
their  own,  shut  out  of  salvation.  For  this  reason  the  Roman 
Catholics  generally,  if  not  universally,  deny  heaven  to  unbap- 
tized  infants*  (except  those  slain  as  martyrs ;)  and  assign  to  them, 

*  "Infants,  unless  they  be  regenerated  by  God  through  the  grace  of  liaptisni. 


232  CHILDREN    IN    HEAVEN. 

on  the  confines  of  purgatory,  a  separate  limhus,  or  place  of  their 
own,  scarcely  more  lightened  by  divine  love  than  that  the  heathen 
dreamed  of.  Hence,  also,  the  eagerness  of  that  people  to  confer 
baptism  upon  all  whom  they  can  by  any  means  reach.  But 
theirs  is  at  best,  as  Bishop  Hall  says,  "  The  hard  sentence  of  a 
bloody  religion  ;"  and  part  of  that  system,  the  policy  of  which 
is  to  claim  the  prerogative  of  dispensing  heavenly  gifts,  to  make 
earthly  gain  of  them.  It  is  difficult,  nay,  impossible,  for  others, 
who  teach  the  same  doctrine  of  sacramental  regeneration,  to 
avoid  the  same  distressing  conclusion  ;*  the  supposition  of  un- 
covenanted  mercy  will  not  avail  them,  for  there  is  no  such  mercy 
\vritten  of  in  the  Scriptures  ;  and,  if  it  be  necessary  to  enter 
heaven,  that  we  be  personally  and  visibly  united  to  an  outward 
church  on  earth,  the  infant,  dying  unbaptized,  must  have  some 
other  destiny  than  eternal  life  in  the  presence  of  God. 

A  like  difficulty  clings  about  the  doctrines  of  Justification  by 
good  works,  and  of  Election  because  of  foreseen  good  works. 
Such  saving  conditions  cannot  be  predicated  of  dying  little  ones. 
They  have  neither  present  nor  anticipated  merit  of  their  own. 
They  must  be  elected  if  saved,  and  saved  if  elected,  only  by  free 
sovereign  grace. 

Nor  (as  was  said  in  the  beginning  of  this  treatise)  should  our 
hope  for  them  be  based  upon  their  innocence.  The  Scriptures 
warrant  no  such  expectation ;  but,  on  the  contrary,  declare  the 

are  begotten  by  their  parents,  believers  or  unbelievers,  to  everlasting  misery  and 
perdition." — Council  of  Trent. 

''  It  is  the  doctrine  of  the  Oxford  tracts,  that  no  unbaptized  person  can  enter 
heaven.     See  Piisey  on  Baptising  and  Bridges'  Sacramental  Instruction. 


CHILDREN    AND    THE    GOSPEL.  233 

whole  race  of  Adam  involved  by  the  consequences  of  his  fall, 
and,  as  a  visible  proof  of  this,  death  has  passed  upon  all  alike. 
It  is  in  Christ  alone,  Christ  the  second  Adam,  Christ  the 
Almighty  Saviour,  Christ  the  only  Mediator  between  God 
and  man,  that  they  can  be  saved ;  but  in  him  there  is  plenteous 
redemption,  and  he  has  claimed  them  for  his  kingdom  ;  nor  shall 
any  be  able  to  pluck  them  out  of  his  hand. 

Blessed  be  thy  name,  O  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  for  our  knowledge 
of  thy  full  salvation,  free  as  it  is  full,  M^hich  embraces  as  securely 
the  souls  of  babes  and  sucklings,  as  thine  arms  did  embrace 
fondly  their  little  forms,  when  unbelieving  men  would  have  kept 
them  from  thee !  Their  hosannas  were  grateful  to  thine  ear, 
when  thy  glory  was  hidden  from  the  wise  and  prudent ;  how 
surpassingly  sweet  must  they  be  to  thee  now,  as  thou  dost  look 
from  thy  cross-bought  throne  upon  the  countless  throng  in  sinless, 
immortal  beauty,  for  ever  safe  from  sin,  and  sorrow,  and  shame, 
through  thine  abounding  love ! 

30 


a|0  ait  Jlnfant  in  its  Q^ntbt'cloilits. 


MRS.  L.  H.  SIGOURNEY. 

Go  to  thy  sleep,  my  child, 

Go  to  thy  dreamless  bed, 
Gentle  and  undefiled, 

With  blessings  on  thy  head : — > 
Fresh  roses  in  thy  hand, 

Buds  on  thy  pillow  laid, 
Haste  from  this  fearful  land 

Where  flowers  so  quickly  fade. 

Before  thy  heart  had  learned 

In  waywardness  to  stray. 
Before  thy  feet  had  turned 

The  dark  and  downward  way ; 
Ere  sin  had  seared  thy  breast. 

Or  sorrow  woke  the  tear, 
Rise  to  thy  home  of  rest 

In  yon  celestial  sphere. 
# 

Because  thy  smile  was  fair. 

Thy  lip  and  eye  so  bright; 

2U 


TO    AN    INFAXT    IX    ITS    GRAVE-CLOTUES.         235 

Because  thy  cradle-care 

Was  such  a  fond  delight, 
Shall  love  with  weak  embrace 

Thy  outspread  wing  detain? 
No ! — angels, — seek  thy  place 

Amid  the  cherub  train. 


8ljc  g^ati^-angers  Mission. 

"Go  forth,"  said  the  heavenly  Father, 
To  one  of  his  seraph  train ; 

"  Go  forth  on  an  errand  of  mercy 
To  the  world  of  trouble  and  pain. 

"Loosen  the  galling  fetters 

That  bind  the  weary  and  worn ; 
And  bear  to  their  glorious  mansions 
The  souls  that  for  bliss  are  born. 

"And  away  from  earth's  noxious  vapours, 
Some  buds  of  beauty  bring, 
To  bloom  in  the  heavenly  gardens, 
'Neath  the  smile  of  perpetual  spring." 

And  the  angel  with  wings  resplendent. 
Went  out  from  the  heavenly  band, 

'Midst  a  chorus  of  joyful  voices, 
Resounding  at  God's  right  hand. 

In  the  street  of  a  cro^A'ded  city. 
An  old  man  beggared  and  poor. 

Hungry,  and  sick,  and  sorrowing. 
Sank  down  by  a  rich  man's  door. 

236 


THE    death-angel's    MISSION.  237 

Sleep  weighed  down  his  heavy  eyelids, 

And  feebly  he  drew  his  breath, 
As  beside  him,  with  look  of  compassion, 

Alighted  the  angel  of  death. 

Then  he  thought  of  the  years  long  vanished, 

The  lovely,  the  lost,  and  the  dear. 
Till  borne  on  the  wings  of  sweet  vision 

He  woke  in  a  happier  sphere. 

There  were  none  on  earth  to  sorrow. 

That  the  old  man's  days  were  o'er, 
But  myriads  bade  him  welcome, 

As  he  neared  the  heavenly  shore.' 

Slowly  night's  gathering  shadows 

Closed  round  a  mother-  mild. 
Who,  tearful  and  heavy-hearted, 

Watched  by  her  dying  child. 

Fevered,  and  restless,  and  moaning. 

On  his  little  bed  he  lay. 
When  the  bright-winged  angel  drew  near  him, 

And  kissed  his  last  breath  away. 

So  gently  tlie  chain  was  severed — 

So  gently  was  stayed  the  breath — • 
It  soothed  the  heart  of  the  mourner, 

And  slio  blessed  the  ano;el  of  death. 


238  CHILDREN    IN    HEAVEN. 

For  she  knew  the  soul  of  her  darling 
Had  gone  to  his  Father  above, 

Clasped  in  the  arms  more  tender 
Than  even  her  fondest  love. 

And  still  on  his  holy  mission 

Did  the  heaven-sent  messenger  roam, 

Gathering  God's  wandering  children 
To  their  eternal  home. 

Those  only  whose  souls  were  blighted 
And  withered  by  sin  and  shame, 

Saw  no  light  in  the  path  of  the  angel, 
And  knew  not  from  Avhence  he  came ! 

And  those  only  who  close  their  spirits 

In  Avilful  blindness  here. 
From  the  light  of  God's  nearer  presence 

Need  shrink  with  distrust  and  fear. 


HORATIDS  BONAR,  D.D. 

All  night  Icng  we  watched  the  ebbmg  life. 

As  if  its  flight  to  stay; 
Till  as  the  dawn  was  coming  up, 

Our  last  hope  passed  away. 

She  was  the  music  of  our  home, 

A  day  that  knew  no  night. 
The  fragrance  of  our  garden  bower, 

A  thing  all  smiles  and  light. 

Above  the  couch  we  bent  and  prayed, 

In  the  half-lighted  room ; 
As  the  bright  hues  of  infant  life 

Sank  slowly  into  gloom. 

Each  flutter  of  the  pulse  we  marked, 

Each  quiver  of  the  eye ; 
To  the  dear  lips  our  ear  we  laid, 

To  catch  the  last  low  sigh. 


We  stroked  the  little  sinking  cheeks. 
The  forehead  pale  and  fair; 

239 


240  CHILDREN    IN    HEAVEN. 

We  kissed  the  small,  round,  ruby  mouth, 
For  Lucy  still  was  there. 

We  fondly  smoothed  the  scattered  curls, 

Of  her  rich  golden  hair; 
We  held  the  gentle  palm  in  ours, 

For  Lucy  still  was  there. 

At  last  the  fluttering  pulse  stood  still. 
The  death-frost   through  her  clay 

Stole  slowly;  and,  as  morn  came  up, 
Our  sweet  flower  passed  away. 

The  form  remained ;  but  there  was  now 

No  soul  our  love  to  share; 
No  warm  responding  lip  to  kiss ; 

For  Lucy  was  not  there. 

Farewell,  with  weeping  hearts  we  said, 
Child  of  our  love  and  care ! 

And  then  we  ceased  to  kiss  those  lips. 
For  Lucy  was  not  there. 

But  years  are  moving  quickly  past. 
And  time  will  soon  be  o'er ; 

Death  shall  be  swallowed  up  of  life 
On  the  immortal  shore. 

Then  shall  we  clasp  that  hand  once  more, 
And  smooth  that  golden  hair; 

Then  shall  we  kiss  those  lips  again, 
When  Lucy  shall  be  there. 


fht   mnlh   of  fktnuB    mtlbilU, 
o  (jj)  J  s-jj  cr-p 

MRS.  A.  STUART  MONTEATH. 

One  time  my  soul  was  pierced  as  witli  a  sword, 
Contending  still  with  men  untaught  and  Avild, 

When  he  who  to  the  j^rophet  lent  his  gourd, 
Gave  me  the  solace  of  a  pleasant  child. 

A  summer  gift  my  precious  flower  was  given ; 

A  very  summer  fragrance  was  its  life ; 
Its  clear  eyes  soothed  me  as  the  blue  of  heaven 

When  home  I  turned,  a  weary  man  of  strife. 

With  unformed  laughter,  musically  sweet, 

How  soon  the  waking  babe  would  meet  my  kiss  ; 

With  outstretched  arms  its  care-wrought  fatlier  greet. 
Oh  !  in  the  desert  what  a  spring  was  this. 

A  few  short  months  it  blossomed  near  my  heart ; 

A  few  short  months — else  toilsome  all  and  sad; 
But  that  home  solace  nerved  me  for  my  part, 

And  of  the  babe  I  was  exceeding  glad. 

*•  Born,  July  0.  IJSG.     r);e  1  iibnut  January,  15SS. 
31  2U 


242  CHILDREN     IN     HEAVEN. 

Alas !  my  pretty  bud,  scarce  formed,  was  dying — 
(The  prophet's  gourd,  it  withered  in  a  night!) 

And  he  who  gave  me  all,  my  heart  pulse  trying. 
Took  gently  home  the  child  of  my  delight. 

Kot  rudely  culled — not  suddenly  it  perished. 
But  gradual  faded  from  our  love  away  ! 

As  if  still,  secret  dews,  its  life  that  cherished, 
Were  drop  by  drop  withheld,  and  day  by  day !  * 

My  blessed  Master  saved  me  from  repining. 

So  tenderly  he  sued  me  for  his  own  ; 
So  beautiful  he  made  my  babe's  declining. 

Its  dying  blessed  me  as  its  birth  had  done ! 

And  daily  to  my  board  at  noon  and  even 
Our  fading  flower  I  bade  his  mother  bring, 

That  we  might  commune  of  our  rest  in  heaven, 
Gazing  the  while  on  death  without  its  sting. 

And  of  the  ransom  for  that  l)aby  paid, 

So  very  sweet  at  times  our  converse  seemed, 

That  the  sure  truth  a  gladness  made — 

Our  little  lamb  by  God's  own  Lamb  redeemed. 

There  were  two  milk-white  doves  my  wife  had  nourished ; 

And  I  too  loved,  erewhile,  at  times  to  stand. 
Marking  how  each  the  other  fondly  cherished, 

And  fed  them  from  my  baby's  dimpled  hand  !  < 


THE    CHILD    OF    JAMES    MELVILLE.  243 

So  tame  they  grew,  that,  to  his  cradle  flying, 
Full  oft  they  cooed  him  to  his  noon-tide  rest ; 

And  to  the  murmurs  of  his  sleep  replying. 
Crept  gently  in,  and  nestled  in  his  breast 

'Twas  a  fair  sight — the  snow-pale  infant  sleeping. 
So  fondly  guardianed  by  those  creatures  mild ; 

Watch  o'er  his  closed  eyes  their  bright  eyes  keeping, 
Wondrous  the  love  betwixt  the  birds  and  child! 

Still,  as  he  sickened,  seemed  the  doves  too  divining, 
Forsook  their  food,  and  loathed  their  pretty  play; 

And  on  the  day  he  died,  with  sad  note  pining, 
One  gentle  bird  would  not  be  frayed  away. 

His  mother  found  it,  when  she  rose  sad-hearted, 
At  early  dawn,  with  sense  of  nearing  ill ; 

And  when,  at  last,  the  little  spirit  parted. 
The  dove  died  too,  as  if  of  its  heart's  chill ! 

The  other  flew  to  meet  my  sad  home-riding. 

As  with  a  human  sorrow  in  its  coo — 
To  my  dead  cliild  and  its  dead  mate  then  guiding, 

Most  pitifully  plained,  and  parted  too ! 

'Twas  my  first  "hansel"*  and  "propine"t  to  heaven; 

And  as  I  laid  my  darling  'neath  the  sod — 
Precious  His  comforts — once  an  infant  given, 

And  offered  with  two  turtle-doves    to  God ! 

*  Present.  |  Earnest,  pledge. 


6         eg)  (xp  6 

MRS.  H.  M.  DODGE. 

And  I  am  left!     There  is  a  stran2;e  delig-ht 

In  counting  o'er  one's  bitterness,  to  cull 

A  flower  of  comfort  from  it.     I  am  left 

To  bear  the  gathering  storms  of  life,  my  child, 

Still  tempest-tost  upon  its  dangerous  seas, 

While  thou  art  safely  moored.     Thy  little  barque 

Is  anchored  in  the  haven  where  the  winds 

Of  sorrow  never  blow.     Thy  star  has  risen 

In  climes  of  peace  and  love,  to  set  no  more 

For  ever  and  for  ever.     All  thy  life 

Was  like  a  rose-bud — like  the  gentle  breath 

Of  purest  fragrance,  wafted  on  the  wing 

Of  early  Zephyr — like  the  opening  ray 

Of  morning's  softest  blush.     Thy  little  heart 

Had  never  tasted  woe. 

*         *         *         *         Blessed  child ! 
Thy  lot  on  earth  was  bright,  and  now  thou  art 
With  holy  angels.     I  will  cease  to  mourn ! 
Oh !    had  I  loved  thee  less,  my  foolish  heart 
Had  sighed  to  keep  tlieo  in  this  changing  world — 

244 


THE  BEREAVED  MOTHER.  245 

Had  fastened  thee  to  life,  'till  thou  hadst  drained 

Its  '^ery  dregs  of  woe  !     ISrc\^er  !    Oh,  never 

Could  I  have  knelt  and  kissed  the  chastening  rod 

With  such  unfeigned  submission.     Never !    never 

Could  I  have  looked  so  calmly  on  the  smile 

Thy  parting  spirit  left,  had  my  fond  soul 

Less  dotingly  hung  o'er  thee  in  thy  life — 

Less  proudly  treasured  up  thy  darling  name 

In  the  deep  recess  of  my  heart.     But  now 

Our  very  lives  were  one.     There  could  not  be 

A  deeper,  purer  tenderness,  than  heaved 

This  trembling  breast  for  thee.     How  could  I  then 

Ask  aught  for  thee  but  happiness?     In  life, 

When  thou  wast  closely  folded  in  these  arms. 

And  I  did  feel  thy  warm  breath  on  my  cheek, 

Thy  smiling  eyes  fixed  tenderly  on  mine. 

My  prayers  were  full  of  pleadings,  agonies 

Almost  of  earnestness,  that  heaven  would  bless 

Thy  opening  day  with  joy  and  every  good 

That  might  be  deemed  most  proper.     Oh,  are  not 

These  prayers  most  fully  answered?     Could  my  soul 

In  all  its  deepest  gush  of  tenderness, 

Have  asked  a  holier  boon — a  blessedness 

More  durable,  more  infinite  and  pure. 

More  like  the  nature  of  a  God  to  give, 

Than  heaven's  own  self,  with  all  its  blessed  ones, 

Its  high  society,  its  holy  love, 

Its  rapturous  songs  of  gratitude  and  praise, 


246  CHILDREN    IN    HEAVEN. 

Its  pure  celestial  streams,  and  fruits,  and  flowers, 

And  glorious  light  reflected  from  the  face 

Of  God's  eternal  Son  ?     Could  I  have  claimed 

A  higher  boon,  my  precious  babe,  for  thee?  ' 

And  then,  again,  to  be  exempt  from  wo 

And  human  suffering,  for  ever  free 

From  all  the  toils,  and  pains,  and  nameless  cares 

That  gather  with  our  years — and  oh  !    perchance, 

At  last  a  hopeless  death  !     Oh !    I  could  weep 

With  very  gratitude  that  thou  art  saved — 

Thy  soul  FOR  EVER  SAVED.     What  though  my  heart 

Should  bleed  at  every  pore — still  thou  art  blessed. 

There  is  an  hour,  my  precious  innocent. 

When  we  shall  meet  again !     Oh !    may  we  meet 

To  separate  no  more.     Yes !    I  can  smile, 

And  sing  with  gratitude,  and  weep  with  joy, 

Even  while  my  heart  is  breaking ! 


'he  miiltt  is  ^);tppitr  pohi. 


SAMUEL  I.  PRIME,  D.D. 

"We  desire  our  children!.?  happiness  ;  we  pray  and  labour  for 
it;  we  are  willing  to  make  great  sacrifices  of  our  comfort  to  se- 
cure it  for  them.  In  sickness,  we  forget  our  own  health  and 
lives  for  the  sake  of  theirs.  We  watch  them,  and  toil  for  them, 
and  would  die  for  them.  We  more  than  die  for  them  some- 
times. 

And  if  we  grieve  when  their  happiness  calls  them  from  us, 
our  grief  is  selfish,  it  is  for  ourselves,  and  not  for  them,  we 
mourn.  But  we  should  not  mourn,  if  we  knew  what  he  has 
gained  whom  we  have  lost.  Instantly,  on  being  released  from 
the  body,  the  spirit  of  the  infant  returns  to  God  who  gave  it. 
Endowed  with  capacities  that,  if  permitted  to  expand  a-id  im- 
prove on  earth,  would  in  fifty  years,  perhaps,  have  made  him 
wiser  than  Newton,  or  Plato,  or  Solomon,  it  rushes  into  the 
mysteries  of  the  Divine  mind,  and  on  wings  of  thought  such  as 
angels  use  in  rising  into  the  regions  of  knowledge  that  pass  all 
understanding,  he  begins  his  flight,  and  stretches  onward,  and 
right  onward  for  ever.  He  never  tires.  No  weakness,  or  sick- 
ness, no  pain  to  make  him  pause  or  falter  in  his  upward  way. 
He  bears  himself  into  the  presence  of  the  Omniscient,  becomes 

*  From  "  The  Smitten  Household." 
247 


248  CHILDREN    IN     HEAVEN. 

a  discip.e  in  the  school  of  Christ,  flies  on  with  Moses,  and  Da- 
vid, and  John,  and  learns  from  them  the  wonderful  things  of 
heaven,  the  mysteries  of  the  kingdom  ;  and  thus,  ever  advan- 
cing, he  rises  nearer  and  still  nearer  to  the  comprehension  of  him 
wlio  is  still  infinitely  above  and  beyond  his  last  and  loftiest  reach. 
And  what  a  change  is  this  !  Yesterday,  an  infant  in  his  mother's 
arms,  or  a  child  amused  with  a  rattle  or  a  straw ;  to-day  a  ser- 
aph in  the  midst  of  seraphim ;  burning  with  excessive  glory  in 
the  preseuce  of  God. 

Hapj:)int'ss  is  tlie  fruit  of  holiness.  Washed  in  the  blood  of 
tlie  everlasting  covenant,  and  sanctified  by  the  Holy  Ghost,  he 
is  now  among  the  holy,  as  happy  as  any  who  are  there.  Those 
faculties  of  mind,  expanded  in  the  atmosphere  of  heaven,  are 
employed  in  the  praises  of  that  grace  that  called  him  so  soon 
from  Nature's  darkness  into  the  light  of  eternity ;  the  gloom  of 
sin  scarce  shading  the  brightness  of  his  rising  sun,  before  the 
noon  of  heaven  burst  upon  him.  As  if  an  angel  had  lost  his 
way,  and  for  a  few  days  had  wandered  among  the  sons  of  men, 
till  his  companions  suddenly  discovered  him  in  this  wilderness, 
and  caught  him,  and  bore  him  off  to  his  native  residence  among 
the  blessed ;  so  the  child  is  taken  kindly  in  the  morning  of  its 
wanderings,  and  gathered  among  the  holy  and  brought  home  to 
his  Father's  house.  How  pure  his  spirit  now ;  how  happy  he 
is  now ! 

"Apostles,  martyrs,  prophets,  there 
Around  my  Saviour  stand," 

and  among  them  I  behold  the  infant  forms  of  those  whose  little 
graves  were  wet  with  the  tears  of  parental  love.     I  hear  their 


THE     CHILD     IS     HAPPIER     N  0  M^  249 

infant  voices  in  the  song.  Do  you  see  in  tlie  midst  of  that 
bright  and  blessed  throng  the  ehild  you  nioarn  ?  I  ask  not  now 
if  you  would  call  him  back  again.  I  fear  you  would !  But  I 
ask  you,  "  IfVia^  loould  tempt  him  bach  again  f^  Bring  out  the 
playthings  tliat  he  loved  on  earth,  the  to}'s  tliat  filled  his  cliikl- 
ish  heart  with  gladness,  and  [)]eased  him  on  the  nursery  floor; 
the  paradise  that  was  ever  briglit  wlien  lie  smiled  Vvithin  it ; 
hold  them  up,  and  ask  him  to  throw  away  his  harp,  and  leave 
the  side  of  his  new-found  friends,  and  the  bosom  of  his  Sav- 
iour ;  and  would  he  come,  to  be  a  boy  again,  to  live,  and  laugh, 
and  love  again,  to  sicken,  suffer,  die,  and  perhaps  be  lost?  I 
think  he  would  stay.  I  think  I  would  shut  the  door  if  I  saw 
him  coming. 
32 


f^mttcrfig  tit  n  (IfeiltJ  s  Smbe. 

MRS.  LYDIA  H.  SIGOURNEY. 

A  BUTTERFLY  basked  on  an  infant's  grave, 

Where  a  lily  had  chanced  to  grow ; 
Why  art  thou  here  with  thy  gaudy  dye, 
Where  she  of  the  bright  and  the  sparkling  eye 
Must  sleep  in  the  churchyard  low? 

Then  it  lightly  soared  through  the  sunny  air, 

And  spoke  from  its  shining  track  ; 
"  I  was  a  worm  till  I  won  my  wings, 
And  she  whom  thou  mourn'st,  like  a  seraph  sings- 

Would&t  thou  call  the  blest  one  back?" 

250 


ap 


eep  n0t   far    ^crl 


Weep  not  for  her!     Her  span  was  like  the  sky, 
Whose  thousand  stars  shine  beautiful  and  bright ; 

Like  flowers,  that  know  not  what  it  is  to  die; 

Like  long-linked,  shadeless  months  of  polar  light; 

Like  music  floating  o'er  a  waveless  lake. 

While  echo  answers  from  the  flowery  brake: 
Weep  not  for  her! 

Weep  not  for  her!     She  died  in  early  youth, 
Ere  hope  had  lost  its  rich  romantic  hues ; 

When  human  bosoms  seemed  the  homes  of  truth. 
And  earth  still  gleamed  wdth  beauty's  radiant  dews. 

Her  summer  prime  waned  not  to  days  that  freeze ; 

Her  wine  of  life  was  run  not  to  the  lees: 
Weep  not  for  her ! 

Weep  not  for  her!  By  fleet  or  slow  decay, 
It  never  grieved  her  bosom's  core  to  mark 

The  playmates  of  her  childhood  Avear  away. 
Her  prospects  wither,  or  her  hopes  grow  dark; 

*  From  ■•  Noctes  Ambio.~.an;u." 
251 


252  CHILDREN    IN     HEAVEN. 

Translated  by  her  God,  with  spirit  shriven, 
She  passed,  as  'twere  in  smiles,  from  earth  to  heaven ! 
Weep  not  for  her  ! 

Weep  not  for  her !     It  ^vas  not  hers    to  feel 
The  miseries  that  corrode  amassing  years, 

'Gainst  dreams  of  baffled  bliss  the  heart  to  steel, 
To  wander  sad  down  age's  vale  of  tears, 

As  whirl  the  withered  leaves  from  friendship's  tree, 

And  on  earth's  M-intry  world  alone  to  be. 
Weep  not  for  her! 

Weep  not  for  her  !     She  is  an  angel  now, 
And  treads  the  sappliire  floors  of  paradise ; 

All  darkness  wiped  from  her  refulgent  brow, 
Sin,  sorrow,  suffering,  banished  from  her  eyes; 

"Victorious  over  death,  to  her  appear 

The  vista'd  joys  of  heaven's  etci'nal  year: 
Weep  not  for  her  ! 

Weep  not  for  her  !     Her  memory  is  the  shrine 
Of  pleasant  thoughts,  soft  as  the  scent  of  flowers, 

Calm  as  on  ^vindless  eve  the  sun's  decline. 

Sweet  as  the  song  of  birds  among  the  boM^ers, 

Ilich  as  the  rainbow,  with  its  hues  of  light, 

Pure  as  the  moonshine  of  an  autumn's  night; 
Weep  not  for  her ! 

Weep  not  for  her !     There  is  no  cause  for  woe  : 
But  rather  nerve  the  spirit,  that  it  walk 


W  E  E  P     X  0  T     F  0  R     II  E  R .  253 

Unshrinking  o'er  the  thorny  patlis  below, 

And  from  earth's  low  defilements  keep  tliee  ba(!k ; 
So,  when  a  few  fleet  severing  years  have  fiov.n, 
She'll  meet  thee  at  heaven's  gate,  arA  lead  thee  on! 
\Ve<>p  not  for  her ! 


pmn  to  ilmi. 

GEO.  W.  BETHUNE,  D.D. 

Yes  !  bear  theni  to  their  rest ; 
The  rosy  babe  tired  with  the  glare  of  day, 
The  prattler  fallen  asleep  even  in  his  play; 

Clasp  them  to  thy  soft  breast, 
O  Night, 
Bless  them  in  dreams  with  a  deep-hushed  delight  I 

Yet  must  they  wake  again  ; 
"Wake  soon  to  all  the  bitterness  of  life, 
The  pang  of  sorrow,  the  temptation  strife, 

Aye,  to  the  conseience-pain. 
O  night, 
Canst  thou  not  take  with  them  a  longer  flight  ? 

Canst  thou  not  bear  them  far, 
Ev'n  now  all  innocent,  before  they  kno',v 
The  taint  of  sin,  its  consequence  of  woe, 

The  world's  distracting  jar, 
O  Night, 
To  some  eternal,  holier,  happier  height? 

254 


HYMN    TO    NIGHT.  255 

Canst  tliou  not  bear  them  up, 
Through  star-lit  skies,  far  from  this  planet  dim 
And  sorrowful,  ev'n  while  they  sleep,  to  Him, 

Who  drank  for  us  the  cup, 

O  Night, 

The  cup  of  wrath  for  souls  in  faith  contrite? 

To  him,  for  them  who  slept 
A  babe  all  lowly  on  his  mother's  knee. 
And,  from  that  hour  to  cross-crowned  Calvary, 

In  all  our  sorrows  we^^t, 
O  Night, 
That  on  our  souls  might  dawn  heaven's  cheering  light? 

Go  lay  their  little  heads 
Close  to  that  human  breast,  with  love  Divine 
Deep  beating;  while  his  arms  immortal  twine 

Around  them  as  he  sheds, 
O  Night, 
On  them  a  brother's  grace  of  God's  own  boundless  might. 

Let  them,  immortal,  wake 
Among  the  deathless  flowers  of  Paradise, 
AVhere  angels'  songs  of  welcome  with  surprise 

This  their  last  sleep  may  break, 
O  Night, 
And  to  celestial  joys  their  kindred  souls  invite^. 


250  CIIILDREX     IX     HEAVEN. 

There  can  come  no  sorrow ; 
The  brow  shall  know  no  shade,  the  eye  no  tears; 
For  ever  young  througii  heaven's  eternal  years 

In  one  unfading  morrow, 
O  Night, 
Nor  sin,  nor  age,  nor  pain,  their  cherub  beauty  blight. 

Would  we  could  sleep  as  they 
So  stainless  and  so  calm  ;  at  rest  with  thee, 
And  only  wake  in  immortality. 

Bear  us  with  them  av/ay, 
O  Night, 
To  that  eternal,  holier,  happier  height. 


Mljitt    tons    t^5    P^^^ 

RICHARD  C.  TRENCH. 

What  was  thy  life?     A  pearl  cast  up  a  while 
Upon  the  bank  and  shoal  of  time;  again, 

Even  as  did  the  gazers'  eyes  beguile, 

To  be  drawn  backward  by  the  hungry  main. 

What  was  thy  life?     A  fountain  of  sweet  wave, 
Which  to  the  salt  sea's  margin  all  too  near 

Rose  sparkling,  and  a  few  steps  scarcely  gave, 
Ere  that  distained  its  waters  fresh  and  clear. 

What  was  thy  life?     A  flowering  almond  tree^ 
Which  all  too  soon  its  blossoms  did  unfold ; 

And  so  must  see  their  lustre  presently 

Dimmed,  and  their  beauty  nipped  by  envious  cold. 

AVhat  was  thy  life  ?     A  bright  and  beauteous  flame, 
Wherein,  a  season,  light  and  joy  we  found  : 

But  a  swift  sound  of  rushing  tempest  came, 

It  past,  and  sparkless  ashes  strewed  the  ground ! 

What  was  thy  life  ?     A  bird  in  infant's  hand 

Held  with  too  slight  a  grasp,  and  which,  before 
He  knows  no  fears,  its  pinions  doth  expand. 

And  with  a  sudden  impulse  heavenward  soar. 
33  257 


'^t  Jnfant  in  €)t'dben 


THOMAS  CHALMERS,  D.D. 

Oh  !  the  babe  little  knew  what  an  interest  it  had  created  in 
that  home  where  it  was  so  passing  a  visitant — nor,  when  carried 
to  its  early  grave,  M'hat  a  tide  of  emotion  it  would  raise  among 
the  few  acquaintances  it  left  behind  it !  On  it,  too,  baptism  was 
impressed  as  a  seal :  and,  as  a  sign,  it  was  never  falsified. 
There  was  no  positive  unbelief  in  its  bosom  ;  no  resistance  yet 
put  forth  to  the  truth ;  no  love  at  all  for  the  darkness  rather 
than  the  light ;  nor  had  it  yet  fallen  into  that  great  condemna- 
tion which  will  attach  itself  to  all  that  perish  because  of  unbe- 
lief, that  their  deeds  are  evil.  It  is  interesting  to  know  that 
God  instituted  circumcision  for  the  infant  children  of  the  Jews, 
and  at  least  suffered  baptism  for  the  infant  children  of  those 
who  profess  Christianity.  Should  the  child  die  in  infancy,  the 
use  of  baptism,  as  a  sign,  has  never  been  thwarted  by  it ;  and 
may  we  not  be  permitted  to  indulge  a  hope  so  pleasing,  as  that 
the  use  of  baptism  as  a  seal  remains  in  all  its  entireness  ;  that 
He,  who  sanctioned  the  affixing  of  it  to  a  babe,  will  fulfil  upon 
it  the  whole  expression  of  this  ordinance.  And  when  we  couple 
with  this  the  known  disposition  of  our  great  Forerunner,  the 
love  that  he  manifested  to  children  on  earth,  how  he  suffered 

258 


THE  INFANT  IN  HEAVEN.  259 

them  to  approach  his  person,  and  lavishing  endenrincnt  and 
kindness  upon  them  in  the  streets  of  Jerusalem,  told  his  disci- 
ples that  the  presence  and  company  of  such  as  these  in  heaven 
formed  one  ingredient  of  the  joy  that  was  set  before  him;  tell 
us  if  Christianity  does  not  throw  a  pleasing  radiance  around  an 
infant's  tomb  ?  And  should  any  parent  who  hears  us,  feel  soft- 
ened bv  the  touching-  remembrance  of  a  liffht  that  twinkled  a 
few  short  months  under  his  roof,  and  at  the  end  of  its  little  pe- 
riod expired,  we  cannot  think  that  we  venture  too  far,  when  we 
say,  that  he  has  only  to  persevere  in  the  faith,  and  in  the  follow- 
ing of  the  gospel,  and  that  ver}^  light  will  again  shine  upon  him 
in  heaven.  The  blossom  which  withered  here  upon  its  stalk, 
has  been  transplanted  there  to  a  place  of  endurance ;  and  there 
it  will  then  gladden  that  eye  which  now  weeps  out  the  agony 
of  an  affection  that  has  been  sorely  w'ounded ;  and  in  the  name 
of  Him  who,  if  on  earth,  would  have  wept  along  with  them,  do 
we  bid  all  believers  present,  to  sorrow  not  even  as  others  which 
have  no  hope,  but  to  take  comfort  in  the  thought  of  that  coun- 
try where  there  is  no  sorrow  and  no  separation. 


gittic  Jnnie. 


J.  H.  P. 

The  precious  bud  had  scarce  begun  to  bloom, 
Ere  death,  relentless,  broke  its  tender  stem ; 

It  droop'd  its  little  head,  and  now  the  tomb 
Has  closed  its  portals  o'er  the  precious  gem. 

We  sadly  gathered  round  her  dying  bed. 

With  hearts  of  grief  to  freely  weep  and  pray, 

And  many  were  the  bitter  tears  we  shed. 
When  little  Annie's  spirit  passed  away. 

And  yet,  methinks,  it  was  not  meet  to  weep 
For  one  to  whom  a  life  so  brief  was  given; 

The  angels  closed  her  little  eyes  in  sleep. 
And  gently  bore  her  spirit  up  to  heaven. 

The  silken  curls  we  parted  o'er  her  brow, 
And  clasped  the  tiny  hands  upon  her  breast, 

Then  in  the  earth's  green  bosom  laid  her  low, 
Down  sweetly  by  the  village  green  to  rest. 

There  now  the  birds  of  summer  blithely  sing, 
And  gently  o'er  her  weeps  the  dewy  grass, 

260 


LITTLE    ANNIE.  261 

And  village  children  often  fondly  bring 

Love's  floral  off 'ring  as  they  chance  to  pass. 

Yes,  dearest  Annie,  thou  hast  early  fled. 
To  seek  beyond  this  world  a  sacred  rest, 

A  sphere  above,  where  all  the  righteous  dead 
In  o-racious  bliss  will  be  for  ever  blest. 

Thy  voice  of  innocence,  though  hushed  on  earth, 
Now  wakes  an  echo  in  the  court  of  heaven ; 

We  felt  thou  wast  an  angel  from  thy  birth. 

And  feared  thy  earthly  ties  would  soon  be  riven. 

Sweet  child,  we  miss  thy  gentle  form  that  late 
Danced  gayly  round  this  sad  and  lonely  home, 

Where  loving  little  brother  mourns  thy  fate. 
And  tearful  asks  if  sister  ne'er  will  come. 

Oh,  could  his  boyish  vision  pierce  the  veil 
That  bounds  the  region  of  ethereal  space, 

No  longer  would  he  thus  thy  loss  bewail, 

Since  mid  the  angels  he  would  view  thy  face. 

Lone  mother,  check  thou  too  the  mournful  sigh, ' 
And  drop  no  longer  now  the  silent  tear, 

Upon  the  silken  curl  or  treasured  toy. 
Or  little  dress  thy  darling  used  to  wear. 

For  while  the  casket  moulders  'neath  the  sod 
That  rises  gently  o'er  yon  little  grave, 


202  CHILDREN    IN    HEAVEN. 

The  precious  jewel  rests  secure  with  God, 
Who  only  took  from  earth  tlie  gem  he  gave. 

Rest !    Annie,  rest ! — though  sacred  ties  are  riven, 
The  beauteous  flowers  around  thy  pillow  bloom; 

We'll  hope  to  meet  thee  at  the  gate  of  heaven. 
When  we  have  safely  passed  death's  bitter  doom. 


God  bless  the  little  feet  that  can  never  go  astray, 

For  the  little  shoes  are  empty,  in  the  closet  laid  away! 

Sometimes  I  take  one  in  my  hand,  forgetting  till  I  see 

It  is  a  little  half  worn  shoe,  not  large  enough  for  me ; 

And  all  at  once  I  feel  a  sense  of  bitter  loss  and  pain, 

As  sharp  as  when  two  years  ago  it  cut  my  heart  in  twain. 

0  little  feet  that  wearied  not,  I  wait  for  them  no  more, 
For   I  am   drifting  on    the  tide,  but   they  have  reached    the 

shore ; 
And   while   the  blinding   tear-drops  wet  these  little  shoes  so 

old, 
And  so  I  lay  them  down  again,  but  always  turn  to  say — 
God  bless  the  little  feet  that  now  so  surely  cannot  stray. 

And  while  I  thus  am  standing,  I  almost  seem  to  see 
Two  little  forms  beside  me,  just  as  they  used  to  be ! 
Two  little  faces  lifted  with  their  sweet  and  tender  eyes! 
Ah  me !    I  might  have  known  that  look  was  born  of  Para- 
dise. 

1  reach  my  arms  out  fondly,  but  they  clasp  the  empty  air! 
There  is  nothing  of  my  darlings  but  the  shoes  they  used  to 

wear. 

263 


264  CHILDREN     IN    HEAVEN. 

O  the  bitterness  of  parting  cannot  be  done  away 

Till    I  see  my  darlings  walking   where  their  feet  can    never 

stray ; 
When  I  no  more  am  drifted  upon  the  surging  tide, 
But  mth  them  safely  landed  upon  the  river  side ; 
Be  patient,  heart !   while  waiting  to  see  their  shining  way, 
For  the  little  feet  in  the  golden  street  can  never  go  astray. 


WILLIAM  H.  BURLEIGH. 

She  hath  gone  in  the  spring-time  of  life, 

Ere  her  sky  had  been  dimmed  by  a  cloud, 
While  her  heart  with  the  rapture  of  love  was  yet  rife, 

And  the  hopes  of  her  youth  were  unbowed — 
From  the  lovely,  who  loved  her  too  well ; 

From  the  heart  that  had  grown  to  her  own; 
From  the  sorrow  which  late  o'er  her  young  spirit  fell, 

Like  a  dream  of  the  night  she  hath  flown ; 
And  the  earth  hath  received  to  its  bosom  its  trust — 
Ashes  to  ashes,  and  dust  unto  dust. 

The  spring,  in  its  loveliness  dressed. 

Will  return  with  its  music-winged  hours, 
And,  kissed  by  the  breath  of  the  sweet  southwest, 

The  buds  shall  burst  out  in  flowers^ 
And  the  flowers  her  grave-sod  above. 

Though  the  sleeper  beneath  recks  it  not. 
Shall  thickly  be  strewn  by  the  hand  of  Love, 

To  cover  witli  beauty  tlie  s^iot — 

34  265 


266  CHILDREN    IN    HEAVEN. 

Meet  emblems  are  they  of  the  pure  one  and  bright, 
'    Who  faded  and  fell  with  so  early  a  blight. 

Ay,  the  spring  Avill  return — but  the  blossom 

That  bloomed  in  our  presence  the  sweetest, 
By  the  spoiler  is  borne  from  the  cherishing  bosom, 

The  loveliest  of  ail  and  the  fleetest! 
The  music  of  stream  and  of  bird 

Shall  come  back  when  the  winter  is  o'er; 
But  the  voice  that  was  dearest  to  us  shall  De  heard 

In  our  desolate  chambers  no  more ! 
The  sunlight  of  May  on  the  waters  shall  quiver — 
The  light  of  her  eye  hath  departed  for  ever! 

As  the  bird  to  its  sheltering  nest, 

When  the  storm  on  the  hills  is  abroad. 
So  her  spirit  hath  flown  from  this  world  of  unrest 

To  repose  on  the  bosom  of  God  ! 
Where  the  sorrows  of  earth  never  more 

May  fling  o'er  its  brightness  a  stain ; 
AVhere  in  rapture  and  love  it  shall  ever  adore, 

AVith  a  gladness  unmingled  with  pain ; 
And  its  thirst  shall  be  slacked  by  the  waters  which  spring. 
Like  a  river  of  light,  from  the  throne  of  the  King  ! 

There  is  weeping  on  earth  for  the  lost ! 

There  is  bowing  in  grief  to  the  ground  ! 
But  rejoicing  and  praise  mid  the  sanctified  host, 

For  a  spirit  in  paradise  found ! 


THE    DEATH    OF    A    YOUNG     GIRL.  267 

Though  brightness  hath  passed  from  the  earth, 

Yet  a  star  is  new-born  in  tlie  sky, 
And  a  soul  hath  gone  home  to  the  land  of  its  birth. 

Where  are  pleasures  and  fulness  of  joy ! 
And  a  new  harp  is  strung,  and  a  new  song  is  given 
To  the  breezes  that  float  o'er  the  gardens  of  heaven. 


M0rbs    of   ^onsohiion. 


COTTON  MATHER.* 

Let  not  the  death  of  your  children  cause  any  inconsolable 
grief.  The  loss  of  children  did  I  say — nay,  let  me  recall  so 
harsh  a  word.  The  children  we  count  lost,  are  not  so.  The 
death  of  our  children  is  not  the  loss  of  our  children.  They  are 
not  lost,  but  given  back ;  they  are  not  lost,  but  sent  before. 

Well,  this  is  the  calamity  which  many  of  you  at  some  time  or 
other  have  experienced  ;  the  death  of  children  is  a  thing  in  which 
the  children  of  Jacob  seldom  escape  a  resemblance  of  their  father. 
Many  carry  themselves  under  the  trial,  as  if  a  death  of  virtue,  yea, 
as  if  a  death  of  reason  had  befallen  them ;  but  recollect  yourselves, 
O  dejected  Christians!  and  be  not  like  them  that  mourn  without 
hope  this  day.  Let  bereaved  parents  be  still  believing  parents; 
the  voice  of  the  great  God  that  formed  all  things  is  unto  them, 
as  in  Jer.  xxxi.  16  :  "  Refrain  thy  voice  from  weeping,  and  thine 
eyes  from  tears,  for  thy  work  shall  be  rewarded,  saith  the  Lord." 
Let  the  thoughts  which  have  been  set  before  us  compose  and 
settle  our  minds  under  this  affliction.  Let  us  not  say,  this 
thing  is  against  us  5  but  let  us  say,  "  the  Lord  gave,  and  the 
Lord  hath  taken  away ;  blessed  be  the  name  of  the  Lord."     It 

*  From  "  Right  Thoughts  in  Sad  Hours." 
268 


WORDS     OF    CONSOLATION.  269 

is  indeed  very  true,  that  this  affliction  is  none  of  the  most  easy 
to  be  borne ;  the  heart  of  a  parent  will  have  peculiar  passions 
working  in  it,  at  such  a  time  as  this,  though  there  be  greater 
sorrows  than  those  with  which  we  follow  a  child  unto  the  grave. 
I  bless  God  it  is  a  more  bitter  thing  to  say,  "My  sin  is  mighty," 
or  to  say,  "  My  soul  is  guilty,"  than  it  is  to  say,  "  My  child  is  dead." 
That  moan,  "  I  have  pierced  my  Saviour,"  is  more  heart-wound- 
ing than  to  mourn  as  one  mourneth  for  a  first-born.  Yet  few 
outward  earthly  anguishes  are  equal  unto  these.  The  dying  of 
a  child  is  like  the  tearing  of  a  limb  from  us.  ButO!  remember 
that  if  ever  we  had  any  grace  in  our  souls,  we  have  ere  this 
willingly  plucked  out  a  right  eye,  and  cut  off  a  right  hand,  for 
the  sake  of  God.  Why  should  we  not  then,  at  the  call 
of  God,  readily  part  with  a  limb,  and  leave  him  room 
to  say,  "  Now  I  know  that  thou  fearest  me,  because  thou  hast 
not  withheld  thy  son,  thine  only  son,  from  Me?"  It  was  from 
God  that  we  received  those  dear  pledges,  our  children,  and  it  is 
to  God  that  we  return  them.  AVe  cannot  quarrel  with  our  God, 
if  about  those  loans  he  say  unto  us.  Give  them  up,  you  have  had 
them  long  enough !  We  knew  what  they  were  when  first  we 
took  them  into  our  arms ;  we  knew  that  they  were  potsherds, 
that  they  were  mortals,  that  the  worms  which  sometimes  kill 
them,  or  at  least  will  eat  them,  are  but  their  name-sakes  ;  and 
that  a  dead  child  is  a  sight  no  more  surprising  than  a  broken 
pitcher  or  a  blasted  flower. 

But  we  did  not,  we  do  not  know,  what  they  might  be,  in  case 
they  M'cre  continued  among  the  living  on  the  earth.  We  cannot 
tell  whether  our  sons  would  prove  as  plants  grown  up  in  their 


270  CniLDREN    IN     HEAVEN. 

youth,  and  our  daughters  as  corner-stones  polished  after  the 
similitude  of  a  palace ;  or,  whether  our  sons  might  not,  like 
Isaac's  son,  do  those  things  that  would  be  "  a  grief  of  mind  unto 
us ;"  and  our  daughters,  like  Jephtha's  daughter,  be  of  them  that 
trouble  us.  Christians,  let  us  be  content  that  our  wise  and  good 
God  should  choose  our  portion  for  us  ;  he  Avill  appoint  us  none 
but  a  goodly  heritage.  Our  temptation  is  no  more  than  what  is 
common  to  men,  yea,  and  to  good  men.  The  greatest  part  of 
those  human  spirits,  that  are  now  beholding  the  face  of  Gcd 
in  glory,  are  such  as  dwelt  in  the  children  of  pious  people, 
departed  in  their  infancy.  And  what  have  we  to  say,  why  we 
should  not  undergo  it  as  well  as  they  ?  Was  the  infant  whose 
decease  we  deplore,  one  that  was  veiy  pretty,  one  that  had  pretty 
features,  pretty  speeches,  pretty  actions  ?  Well,  at  the  resurrec- 
tion of  the  just  we  shall  see  it  again.  The  Lord  Jesus  will  deal 
with  our  dead  children  as  the  prophets  Elijah  and  Elisha  did  by 
those  whom  they  raised  of  old  ;  he  will  bring  them  to  us,  recov- 
ered from  the  pale  jaws  of  death  ;  and  how  amiable,  how  beauti- 
ful, how  comely  they  will  then  be,  no  tongue  is  able  to  express, 
or  heart  to  conceive !  Though  their  beauty  consume  in  the  grave, 
yet  it  shall  be  restored,  it  shall  be  increased,  when  they  shall  put 
oif  their  bed-clothes  in  the  morning  of  the  day  of  God. 

Again  ;  was  the  infant  now  lamented  very  suddenly  snatched 
away,  and  perhaps  awfully  too !  not  merely  by  a  convulsion,  but 
by  scalding,  by  burning,  by  drowning,  by  shooting,  by  stabbing, 
Dr  by  some  unusual  harm  ?  Truly  it  is  often  so,  that  the 
quicker  the  death  the  better.  It  is  more  desirable  for  our 
children  to  feel  but  a  few  minutes  of  pain,  than  it  is  for  them  to 


WORDS    OF    CONSOLAlION.  271' 

lie  groaning  in  those  exquisite  agonies  whicii  would  cause  us  even 
ourselves  to  wish  that  the  Lord  would  take  them  out  of  their 
misery.  As  for  any  more  grievous  and  signal  circumstance  at- 
tendino;  our  dvino;  children,  our  best  course  will  be  to  have  it 
said  of  us,  "  They  ceased ;  saying,  The  will  of  the  Lord  be  done!" 
As  the  love  or  wrath  of  God  is  not  certainly  declared  in,  so  our 
grief  before  him  should  not  be  too  much  augmented  by,  such 
things  as  these.  And  it  is  a  favour,  if  so  much  as  one  of  our 
children  be  left  alive  unto  us.  Let  not  the  sense  of  one  trouble 
swallow  up  the  sense  of  a  thousand  mercies.  The  mother  from 
whom  a  violent  death  has  taken  one  of  her  two  children,  may 
immediately  embrace  the  other  and  say,  Blessed  be  God  who 
has  left  me  this. 

But  once  more  ;  is  the  deceased  infant  an  only  child  ?  Are 
we  now  ready  to  sigh — All  is  gone  ?  Nay,  thou  hast  but  a  poor 
all,  if  this  were  all.  I  hoi^e  thy  only  child  is  not  thy  only  joy. 
If  thou  hast  ever  experienced  the  new  birth,  the  sense  of  thy 
soul  is,  one  Jesus  is  worth  ten  children  ;  yea,  one  Christ  is  worth 
ten  worlds.  What  though  all  thy  candles  are  put  out !  The 
sun,  the  Sun  of  righteousness  is  arising  to  thy  soul  for  ever.  An 
undone  man  art  thou  indeed !  thou  hast  thy  little  glass  of  water 
spilt  or  spoilt,  while  thou  hast  a  fountain,  a  living  fountain  run- 
ning by  thy  door !  The  blessed  God  calls  thee,  my  child  ;  and 
that  is  infinitely  better  than  a  name  of  sons  and  of  daughters. 

Finally.     Have  we  any  doubts  about  the  eternal  salvation 
of  the  children  which  we  have  buried  out  of  our  sight  ?     In- 
deed AS  TO  GROWN  CHILDREN,  there  is  often  too  sad  cause  of 
suspicion  or  solicitude ;   and  yet  here,  the  sovereign  disposals  of 
t 


272  CHILDREN    IN    HEAVEN. 

God  must  be  submitted  to.  Besides,  though  it  may  be  we  could 
not  see  such  plain  marks  and  signs  of  grace  in  our  adult  chil- 
dren as  we  could  have  wished  for,  nevertheless  they  might  have 
the  root  of  the  matter  in  them.  There  are  many  serious,  gracious, 
well-inclined  young  people,  who  conceal  from  everybody  the 
evidences  of  their  repentance,  and  the  instances  of  their  devo- 
tion. You  cannot  tell  what  the  Lord  did  for  the  souls  of  your 
poor  children  before  he  took  them  out  of  the  world.  Perhaps 
they  sought,  they  found  mercy  at  the  last.  The  child  of  a 
good  parent  is  not  to  be  despaired  of,  though  turned  off  the 
gallows. 

But  as  to  young  children,  the  fear  of  God  will  take  away 
all  matter  of  scruple  in  the  owners  of  them.  Parents,  can  you 
not  sincerely  say,  that  you  have  chosen  God  in  Christ  for  the 
best  portion,  as  of  yourselves,  so  of  your  children  ?  Answer 
this :  if  your  children  had  been  spared  unto  you,  would  it  not 
have  been  your  care  to  have  them  brought  up  in  the  nurture  and 
admonition  of  the  Lord  ?  Would  you  not  have  used  all  prayers 
and  pains  to  have  them  engaged  unto  the  service  of  the  liv- 
ing God,  and  unto  a  just  aversion  to  all  the  vile  idols  and  vam 
courses  of  the  world  ?  Then  be  of  good  cheer  :  your  children 
are  in  a  better  place,  a  better  state,  than  you  yourselves  are  yet 
arrived  unto.  The  faithful  God  hath  promised,  I  will  be  their 
God,  as  well  as  thy  God.  Oh  say.  This  is  all  my  desire,  though 
the  Lord  suffer  not  my  house  to  grow.  Those  dear  children  are 
gone  from  your  kind  arms,  into  the  kinder  arms  of  Jesus,  and 
this  is  by  far  the  best  of  all,  to  have  children  this  day  in  heaven. 
Truly  this  is  an  honour  which  neither  you  nor  I  are  worthy  of. 


WORDS     OP    CONSOLATION.  273 

But  SO  it  is :  the  King  of  kings  hath  sent  for  our  children  to 
confer  a  kingdom  on  them.  They  are  gone  from  a  dark  vale  of 
sin  and  shame ;  they  are  gone  into  the  land  of  light,  and  life, 
and  love ;  there  they  are  with  the  spirits  of  just  men  made  per- 
fect }  there  they  serve  the  Lord  day  and  night  in  his  temple, 
having  all  tears  wiped  from  their  eyes ;  and  from  thence  me- 
thinks  I  hear  them  crying  aloud  unto  us,  '  As  well  as  you  love 
us  we  would  not  be  with  you  again :  weep  not  for  us,  but 
for  yourselves,  and  count  not  yourselves  at  home  till  you  come 
to  be,  as  we  are,  for  ever  with  the  Lord.' 

I  have  done.  The  fit  epitaph  of  a  dead  infant  (that,  that 
alone  is  enough  to  be  the  solace  of  a  sad  parent,)  is,  'Of  such  is 
the  kingdom  of  heaven.' 

36 


MRS.  LYDIA  H.  SIGOURNEY. 
"  Is  it  well  with  the  child  ?     And  she  answered,  It  is  well." — 2  Kings  iv.  26. 

"  Is   it   well   with   the   child  ?"      And   she   answered,    "  'Tis 
well." 

But  I  gazed  on  the  mother  who  spake, 
For  a  tremulous  tear,  as  it  sprang  from  its  cell. 

Bade  a  doubt  in  my  bosom  aAvake; 
And  I  marked  that  the  bloom  in  her  features  had  fled, 

So  late  in  their  loveliness  rare, 
And  the  hue  of  the  watcher  that  bends  o'er  the  dead 

Was  gathering  in  pensiveness  there. 

"  Is   it   well   with   the    child  ?"      And   she   answered,    "  'Tis 
well." 

I  remember  its  beauty  and  grace. 
When  the  tones  of  its  laughter  did  tunefully  swell 

In  affection's  delighted  embrace : 
And  through  their  long  fringe,  as  it  rose  from  its  sleep, 

Its  eyes  beamed  a  rapturous  ray. 
And  I  wondered  that  silence  should  settle  so  deep 

O'er  the  home  of  a  being  so  gay. 

274 


IS    IT    WELL    WITH    THE    CHILD?  275 

"Is  it  well  wdth  the  child?"     And  she  said,  "'Tis  well." 

It  hath  tasted  of  sickness  and  pain, 
Of  the  pang,  and  the  groan,  and  the  gasp,  it  might  tell — 

It  never  will  suffer  again. 
In  my  dreams,  as  an  angel,  it  stands  by  my  side, 

In  the  garments  of  glory  and  love ; 
And  I  hear  its  glad  lays  to  the  Saviour  who  died, 

'Mid  the  choir  of  the  blessed  above. 


WILUAM  E.  SCHICK,  D.D. 

Although  so  many  years  have  since  passed,  I  remember  it 
as  if  it  were  but  yesterday,  when  my  baby  brother  came.  I 
A^-as  but  a  "wee  bit  thing"  then,  being  not  quite  four  years  old. 
It  was  a  bitter  cold  morning  in  the  month  of  Januar}^,  when 
Jane,  my  kind  and  gentle  nurse,  awaked  me  with  great  glee, 
and  told  me  to  dress  as  fast  as  I  could,  for  she  had  something 
grand  to  show  me.  It  did  not  take  me  long  to  get  ready,  when 
she  carried  me  at  once  to  my  dear  mother's  room. 

How  well  I  remember  that  room.  Every  piece  of  furniture 
and  its  position,  the  hickory  fire  blazing  on  the  hearth,  the  par- 
tially shaded  windows  encircled  by  the  leafless  stems  of  the 
trumpet  honeysuckle  and  the  tall  rose  bushes.  Even  the  pat- 
tern of  the  wall-paper  is  impressed  upon  my  memory.  On  the 
further  side  of  the  bed  stood  my  father,  with  a  countenance  at 
once  grave  and  happy.  On  the  bed  reclined  my  mother,  bols- 
tered up  by  pillows,  and  with  a  face  almost  as  white  as  the  pil- 
lows on  which  she  reclined.  Before  her,  on  the  bed,  rested  the 
tiny  form  of  the  new-comer  to  our  happy  dwelling. 

I  was  obliged  to  stand  on  tiptoe  to  reach  the  little  hand, 
which  I  seized  with  all  the  ardour  of  a  newly  awakened  frater- 

276 


MY    ANGEL    BROTHER.  277 

nal  yyy.  My  mother,  in  soft  and  gentle  tones,  told  me  how 
happy  I  ought  to  be  since  God  had  given  me  a  little  brother, 
and  how  she  hoped  that  I  would  always  be  kind  and  loving  to- 
wards him. 

Time  sped  on.  The  little  baby-brother  was  an  object  of  con- 
stant attraction.  Every  day  I  watched  him,  to  see  how  fast  he 
grew,  and  what  signs  he  gave  forth  of  increasing  intelligence. 
The  body  and  mind  rapidly  expanded  and  developed,  and  al- 
ready I  began  to  entertain  pleasant  visions  of  the  time  when  he 
would  join  me  in  my  future  plays. 

But  God's  ways  are  not  as  our  ways.  The  bleak  and  icy 
month  of  January  had  pa^^sed  away,  and  spring-time  had  come. 
The  trumpet  honeysuckle  was  covered  with  its  scarlet  flowers, 
and  the  white  and  damask  roses  hung  in  profusion  over  the  front 
of  the  pleasant  farm-house.  The  middle  of  June  had  just 
passed,  when  the  little  brother  faded  from  our  sight.  He  was 
not  long  sick,  and  his  death  came  upon  us  all  with  a  sudden 
shock. 

How  sweet  he  looked  as  he  lay  in  his  open  coffin,  with  a  bunch 
of  flowers  placed  within  the  pale  little  hands.  Then  we  fol- 
lowed him  to  his  grave.  Across  the  brook,  and  out  into  yonder 
fields  to  the  old  family  burial-place.  It  was  a  new  scene  to  me, 
and  even  in  the  midst  of  my  childish  grief  I  remember  with 
what  curiosity  and  awe  I  saw  the  little  coffin  lowered  into  the 
grave,  and  the  earth  tlu'own  in,  and  the  turf  neatly  placed  upon 
it.  Then  we  returned  to  the  house,  and  oh  !  what  a  sad,  sad 
void  there  was  in  that  house. 

As  I  have  said,  many,  many  years  have  passed  since  that 


278  CHILDREN    IN    HEAVEN. 

hour.  Little  feet  have  pattered  around  my  own  hearth-stone, 
and  my  own  children  are  on  the  verge  of  manhood  and  woman- 
hood. Yet  often  does  memory  revert  to  the  image  of  that  little 
brother  with  a  tenacious  fondness.  Occasionally  I  visit  that  old 
family  burial-ground  in  the  fields,  and  look  at  the  white  marble 
stones  which  stand  at  the  head  and  foot  of  that  little  grave,  and 
think  of  the  intervening  years  and  their  many  and  varied  occur- 
rences. Beside  that  grave  are  now  seen  those  of  our  father,  our 
mother,  and  other  dear  friends,  who  have  since  passed  from 
earth. 

Did  that  little  blossom  expand  only  to  fade  ?  AVas  that  brief 
visit  to  our  earth  in  vain  ?  It  cannot,  cannot  be.  ■  I  feel  hum- 
bled as  I  stand  by  that  little  grave  to  think  how,  while  I  have 
been  laboriously  toiling  here  to  gather  acquisitions  of  know- 
ledge and  picking  it  up  particle  by  particle,  he  was  ushered  at 
once  into  celestial  light  where  they  "  know  even  as  also  they  are 
known."  During  these  years,  while  that  tiny  form  has  been 
mingled  with  its  kindred  earth,  to  what  amazing  heights  of 
knowledge,  wisdom,  and  goodness  too,  heights  unsealed  by  the 
mind  of  any  living  man  on  earth,  has  he  not  attained.  How 
much  more  he  knows  of  the  Great  God,  and  of  the  universe, 
and  of  the  deep  truths  of  revelation  than  I  do.  And  while  I 
have  been  trying  to  do  good,  a  little  here,  a  little  there,  feebly, 
and  often  unwisely,  how  has  he  been  honoured  to  speed  on  angel 
wings  to  obey  the  Divine  behests,  not  only  in  heaven  and  here  on 
earth,  but  perhaps  to  other  worlds  and  other  systems. 

Yet,  he  is  my  brother  still.  Brief  though  his  visit  was  to 
^iarth,  he  was  born  in  human  form,  and  was  linked  to  me  in  a 


MY    ANGEL    BROTHER.  279 

relationship  which  will  endure  to  all  eternity.  I  claim  him  still 
as  my  brother,  my  angel  brother.  And  if  through  the  rich  grace 
of  Jesus  Christ  our  Elder  Brother  and  our  Saviour,  I  shall  one 
day  enter  Heaven's  gates,  I  fondly  look  to  meet  him  there,  to  know 
him  there,  and  to  love  him  there,  throughout  a  blest  eternity. 


MRS.  H.  B.  STOWE. 

One  year  ago, — a  ringing  voice, 

A  clear  blue  eye, 
And  clustering  curls  of  sunny  hair, 

Too  fair  to  die. 

Only  a  year, — no  voice,  no  smile, 

No  glance  of  eye, 
No  clustering  curls  of  golden  hair. 

Fair  but  to  die ! 

One  year  ago, — what  loves,  what  schemes 

Far  into  life! 
What  joyous  hopes,  what  high  resolves, 

What  generous  strife ! 

The  silent  picture  on  the  wall. 

The  burial  stone, 
Of  all  that  beauty,  life,  and  joy. 

Remain  alone ! 

One  year, — one  year, — one  little  year, — 

And  so  much  gone ! 
And  yet  the  even  flow  of  life 

Moves  c.ihnly  on. 

280 


ONLY    A    YEAR.  281 

The  grave  grows  green,  the  flowers  bloom  fair, 

Above  that  head ; 
No  sorrowing  tint  of  leaf  or  spray 

Says  he  is  dead. 

No  pause  or  hush  of  merry  birds 

That  sing  above 
Tells  us  how  coldly  sleeps  below 

The  form  we  love. 

Where  hast  thou  been  this  year,  beloved? 

"What  hast  thou  seen? 
What  visions  fair,  what  glorious  life, 

Where  thou  hast  been  ? 

The  veil !  the  veil !  so  thin,  so  strong ! 

'Twixt  us  and  thee; 
The  mystic  veil !  w-hen  shall  it  fall, 

That  we  may  see? 

Not  dead,  not  sleeping,  not  even  gone ; 

But  present  still, 
And  waiting  for  tlie  coming  hour 

Of  God's  sweet  will. 

Lord  of  the  living  and  the  dead, 

Our  Saviour  dear! 
We  lay  in  silence  at  thy  feet 

This  sad,  sad    year ! 


36 


San  3  toisli  it  %'dch? 

PHIUP  DODDRIDGE,  D.D. 

Could  I  wish  that  this  young  inhabitant  of  heaven  should 
be  degraded  to  earth  again  ?  Or  would  it  thank  me  for  that 
wish  ?  Would  it  say,  that  it  was  the  part  of  a  wise  parent,  to 
call  it  down  from  a  sphere  of  such  exalted  services  and  pleasures, 
to  our  low  life  here  upon  earth?  Let  me  rather  be  thank- 
ful for  the  pleasing  hope,  that  though  God  loves  my  child  too 
well  to  permit  it  to  return  to  me,  he  will  ere  long  bring  me  to 
it.  And  then  that  endeared  paternal  affection,  which  would 
have  been  a  cord  to  tie  me  to  earth,  and  have  added  new  pangs 
to  my  removal  from  it,  will  be  as  a  golden  chain  to  draw  me 
upwards,  and  add  one  farther  charm  and  joy  even  to  paradise  it- 
self. And  oh,  how  great  a  joy !  to  view  the  change,  and  to 
compare  that  dear  idea,  so  fondly  laid  up,  so  often  reviewed, 
with  the  now  glorious  original,  in  the  improvement  of  the  up- 
per world  !  To  borrow  the  words  of  the  sacred  writer,  in  a  very 
different  sense :  "  I  said  I  was  desolate  and  bereaved  of  children, 
and  who  hath  brought  vp  these  f  I  was  left  alone,  and  these,  where 
have  they  beenf*  Was  this  my  desolation?  this  my  sorrow?  to 
part  with  thee  for  a  few  days,  That  I  might  receive  thee  for  ever,'\ 

*  Isa.  xlix.  21.  -j-  Philem.  vcr.  15, 

282 


CAN    I    WxSH    IT    BACK?  283 

and  find  thee  what  thou  art?"  It  is  for  no  language  but  that 
of  heaven,  to  describe  the  sacred  joy  which  such  a  meeting  must 
occasion. 

In  the  meantime,  Christians,  let  us  keep  the  lively  expecta- 
tion of  it,  and  let  what  has  befallen  us  draw  our  thoughts  to 
heaven.  Perhaps  they  will  sometimes,  before  we  are  aware, 
sink  to  the  grave,  and  dwell  in  the  tombs  that  contain  the  poor 
remains  of  what  was  once  so  dear  to  us.  But  let  them  take 
flight  from  thence  to  more  noble,  more  delightful  scenes.  And  I 
will  add,  let  the  hope  we  have  of  the  hai)piness  of  our  children 
render  God  still  dearer  to  our  souls.  We  feel  a  very  tender 
sense  of  the  kindness  which  our  friends  expressed  towards  them, 
and  think,  indeed  very  justly,  that  their  aiFectionate  care  for 
them  lays  a  lasting  obligation  upon  us.  AVhat  love  then,  and 
what  service  do  we  owe  to  thee,  O  gracious  Father,  who  hast, 
we  hope,  received  them  into  thine  house  above,  and  art  now  en- 
tertaining them  there  with  unknown  delight,  though  our  former 
methods  of  commerce  with  them  be  cut  off!  "Lord,"  should 
each  of  us  say  in  such  a  case,  "  I  would  take  what  thou  art  do- 
ing to  my  child  as  done  to  myself,  and  as  a  specimen  and  earn- 
est of  what  shall  shortly  be  done."     It  is  therefore  well. 


RICHARD  C.  TRENCH. 

Hees  was  a  mother's  lieart, 

That  poor  Egyptian's,  "when  she  drew  apart 

Because  she  would  not  see 

Her  child  beloved  in  its  last  agony ; 

AVhen  her  sad  load  she  laid, 
In  her  despair,  beneath  the  scanty  shade 
In  the  wild  waste,  and  stepped 
Aside,  and  long  and  passionately  wept. 

Yet  higher,  more  sublime. 

How  many  a  mother  since  that  ancient  time 

Has  shown  the  mighty  power 

Of  love  divine,  in  such  another  hour! 

Oh  !    higher  love  to  wait 

Fast  by  the  sufferer  in  his  worst  estate, 

Nor  from  the  eyes  to  hide 

One  pang,  but  aye  in  courage  to  abide. 

And  thouo;h  no  angel  bring 

In  that  dark  hour  unto  a  living  spring 

284 


A     MOTlIEIl'S     HEART.  285 

Of  gladness — as  was  sent, 

Stilling  her  voice  of  turbulent  lament — 

Oh  !    higher  faith  to  show 

Out  of  what  depths  of  anguish  and  of  woe 

The  heart  is  strong  to  raise 

To  an  all-loving  Father  hymns  of  praise. 


CHARLES  WESLEY. 
2  Sam.  xii.  23,-1  Sam.  iii.  18. 

"Wherefoee  should  I  make  my  moan, 
Now  the  darling  child  is  dead? 

He  to  rest  is  early  gone, 
He  to  paradise  is  fled ! 

I  shall  go  to  him,  but  he 

Never  shall  return  to  me. 

God  forbids  his  longer  stay, 
God  recalls  the  precious  loan  I 

He  hath  taken  him  away. 
From  my  bosom  to  his  own. 

Surely  what  he  wills  is  best; 

Happy  in  his  will  I  rest. 

Faith  cries  out,  "  It  is  the  Lord ! 

Let  him  do  what  seems  him  good, 
Be  thy  holy  name  adored, 

Take  the  gift  a  while  bestowed; 
Take  the  child  no  longer  mme 
Thine  he  is,  for  ever  thine !" 

286 


Realms    of  tl^t    llest. 

ANONYMOUS. 

We  speak  of  the  realms  of  tlie  blest, 
Of  that  country  so  bright,  and  so  fair, 
And  oft  are  its  glories  confessed, 
But  what  must  it  be  to  be  there  f 

We  speak  of  its  pathways  of  gold, 
Of  its  walks  decked  with  jewels  so  rare ; 
Of  its  wonders  and  pleasures  untold, — 
But  what  must  it  be  to  be  there? 

We  speak  of  its  freedom  from  sin. 
From  sorrow,  temptation,  and  care, 
From  trials  without  and  within, 
But  what  must  it  be  to  be  there  f 

We  speak  of  its  service  of  love. 
Of  the  robes  which  the  glorified  wear. 
Of  the  church  of  the  first-born  above,— 
But  what  must  it  be  to  be  there? 
287 


§n^    net    *ihin't    'd    I'ftntr    gloto. 

T.  H.  BAYLY. 

Oh!  say  not  'twere  a  keener  blow, 

To  lose  a  child  of  riper  years; 
You  cannot  feel  a  mother's  woe, 

You  cannot  dry  a  mother's  tears; 
The  girl  who  rears  a  sickly  plant, 

Or  cherishes  a  wounded  dove, 
Will  love  them  most  while  most  they  want 

The  watchfulness  of  love  ! 

Time  must  have  changed  that  fair  young  brow! 

Time  might  have  changed  that  spotless  heart! 
Years  migJit  have  taught  deceit,  but  now 

In  love's  confiding  dawn  we  part ! 
Ere  pain  or  grief  had  wrought  decay, 

My  babe  is  cradled  in  the  tomb ; 
Like  some  fair  blossom  torn  away 

Before  its  perfect  bloom. 

With  thoughts  of  peril  and  of  storm, 
We  see  a  bark  first  touch  the  wave ; 

288 


SAY     NOT    'TWERIi     A     KEENER     BLOW.  289 

But  distant  seems  the  ■whirlwind's  form, 

As  distant — as  an  infant's  grave  ! 
Though  all  is  calm,  that  beauteous  ship 

Must  bear  the  whirhvind's  rudest  breath; 
Though  all  is  calm,  that  infant's  lip 

]\Iust  meet  the  kiss  of  death ! 

37 


mxivnci  from  n  tditt. 

ROBERT  HALL. 

I  SINCERELY  Sympathize  Avith  you  in  the  loss  of  your  child , 
but,  my  dear  friend,  do  not  suffer  your  spirits  to  sink.  Remem- 
ber the  tenure  on  which  all  human  enjoyments  are  held,  the 
•wisdom  and  sovereignty  of  their  great  Author,  and  the  gracious 
promise  afforded  to  true  Christians,  that  "  all  things  shall  work 
together  for  good  to  them  that  love  him." 

Remember,  also,  the  many  blessings  with  which  a  kind  Provi- 
dence still  indulges  you.  Ought  you  not  to  rejoice,  that  your 
affectionate  companion  in  life  is  spared ;  and  that,  though  your 
child  is  snatched  from  your  embraces,  he  has  escaped  from  a 
world  of  sin  and  sorrow  ?  The  stamp  of  immortality  is  placed 
on  his  happiness,  and  he  is  encircled  by  the  arms  of  a  compas- 
sionate Redeemer,  Had  he  been  permitted  to  live,  and  you  had 
witnessed  the  loss  of  his  virtue,  you  might  have  been  reserved 
to  suffer  still  severer  pangs.  A  most  excellent  family,  in  our 
congregation,  are  now  melancholy  spectators  of  a  son  dying  at 
nineteen  years  of  age,  by  inches,  a  victim  to  his  vices.  They 
have  frequently  regretted  he  did  not  die  several  years  since,  when 
his  life  was  nearly  despaired  of  in  a  severe  fever.  '"'  Who  know- 
eth  what  is  good  for  a  man  all  the  days  of  this,  his  vain  life, 
which  he  spends  as  a  shadow  ?" 

290 


Urge  for  a  gifeil^. 


MRS.  HEMANS. 

No  bitter  tears  for  thee  be  shed, 
Blossom  of  being!    seen  and  gone! 

"With  flowers  alone  we  strew  thy  bed, 
O  blest  departed  one ! 

Whose  all  of  life,  a  rosy  ray. 

Blushed  into  dawn,  and  passed  away. 

Yes!    thou  art  fled,  ere  guilt  had  power 
To  stain  thy  cherub  soul  and  form, 

Closed  is  the  soft  ephemeral  flower. 
That  never  felt  a  storm! 

The  sun-beam's  smile,  the  zephyr's  breath, 

All  that  it  knew  from  birth  to  death. 

Thou  wert  so  like  a  form  of  light, 

That  Heaven  benignly  called  thee  hence 

Ere  yet  the  world  could  breathe  one  blight 
O'er  thy  sweet  innocence: 

And  thou,  that  brighter  home  to  bless. 

Art  passed  with  all  thy  loveliness  ! 

291 


292  CHILDKEN    IN    HEAVEN. 

Oil,  hadst  thou  still  on  earth  remained, 
Vision  of  beauty!   fair,  as  brief! 

How  soon  thy  brightness  liad  been  stained 
With  passion  or  with  grief! 

Now  not  a  sullying  breath  can  rise 

To  dim  tliy  glory  in  the  skies. 

We  rear  no  marble  o'er  thy  tomb, 

No  sculptured  image  there  shall  mourn : 

Ah !    fitter  far  the  vernal  bloom 
Such  dwelling  to  adorn. 

Fragrance,  and  flowers,  and  dews,  must  be 

The  only  emblems  meet  for  thee. 

Thy  grave  shall  be  a  blessed  shrine. 
Adorned  with  nature's  brightest  MTeath, 

Each  glowing  season  shall  combine 
Its  incense  there  to  breathe; 

And  oft  upon  the  midnight  air. 

Shall  viewless  harps  be  murmuring  there. 

And  oh !    sometimes  in  visions  blest. 
Sweet  spirit!    visit  our  repose. 

And  bear  from  thine  own  world  of  rest, 
Some  balm  for  human  woes ! 

What  form  more  lovely  could  be  given 

Than  thine,  as  messenger  of  Heaven? 


^0ne— But  not  Sost. 

MRS.  ELLEN  STONE. 

Sweet  bud  of  Earth's  wilderness,  rifled  and  torn ! 
Fond  eyes  have  wept  o'er  thee,  fond  hearts  still  will  mourn  j 
The  spoiler  hath  come,  with  his  cold  withering  breath, 
And  the  loved  and  the  cherished  lies  silent  in  death. 

He  felt  not  the  burden  and  heat  of  the  day ! 
He  hath  passed  from  this  earth,  and  its  sorrows,  away, 
With  the  dew  of  the  morning  yet  fresh  on  his  brow : — 
Sweet  bud  of  Earth's  wilderness,  where  art  thou  now? 

And  oh  !    do  ye  question,  with  tremulous  breath, 
Why  the  joy  of  your  household  lies  silent  in  death? 
Do  ye  mourn  round  the  place  of  his  perishing  dust  ? 
Look  onward  and  upward,  with  holier  trust ! 

•Who  cometh  to  meet  him,  with  light  on  her  brow? 
What  angel  form  greets  him,  so  tenderly  now? 
'Tis  the  pure  sainted  mother,  springs  onward  to  bear 
The  child  of  her  love  from  this  region  of  care ! 

She  beareth  him  on  to  that  realm  of  repose. 
Where  no  cloud  ever  gathers,  no  storm  ever  blows : 

293 


294  CHILDREN    IN    HEAVEN. 

For  the  Saviour  calls  home  to  the  mansions  above, 
This  frail  trembling  floweret  in  mercy  and  love. 

There  shall  he  for  ever,  unchanged  by  decay. 
Beside  the  still  waters  and  green  pastures  stray; 
And  there  shall  ye  join  him,  with  earth's  ransomed  host- 
Look  onward  and  upward '    "  he's  gone — but  not  lost  /" 


&ititpl^  0tt  a  JIMltr. 

RICHARD  HUIE,  M.D. 

Sleep  on,  my  babe !    thy  little  bed 

Is  cold,  indeed,  and  narrow; 
Yet  calmly  there  shall  rest  thy  head, 
And  neither  mortal  pain  nor  dread 
Shall  e'er  thy  feelings  harrow! 

Thou  may'st  no  more  return  to  me; 

But  there's  a  time,  my  dearest, 
When  I  shall  lay  me  down  by  thee, 
And  when  of  all  my  babe  shall  be 

That  sleep  around,  the  nearest! 

And  sound  our  sleep  shall  be,  my  child, 

Were  earth's  foundations  shaken ; 
Till  He,  the  pure,  the  undefiled. 
Who  once,  like  thee,  an  infant  smiled, 
The  dead  to  life  awaken ! 

Then,  if  to  Him,  with  faith  sincere, 

My  babe  at  death  was  given. 
The  kindred  tie  that  bound  us  here, 
Though  rent  apart  with  many  a  tear, 
Shall  be  renewed  in  heaven ! 

*  From  Sacred  Lyrics. 
295 


ml^t  ^0ss  of  ^InUixm, 


FLAVEL. 

Mourner,  m- hatever  may  be  your  grief  for  the  death  of  your 
children,  it  might  liave  been  still  greater  for  their  life.  Bitter 
experience  once  led  a  good  man  to  say,  "  It  is  better  to  Aveep  for 
ten  children  dead,  than  for  one  living."  Remember  the  heart- 
piercing  affliction  of  David,  \yhose  son  sought  his  life.  Your 
love  for  your  children  will  hardly  admit  of  the  thought  of  such 
a  thing  as  possible,  in  your  own  case.  They  appeared  innocent 
and  amiable ;  and  you  fondly  believed,  that  through  your  care 
and  pray  el's,  they  would  have  become  the  joy  of  your  hearts. 
But  may  not  Esau,  w^hen  a  child,  have  promised  as  much  comfort 
to  his  parents  as  Jacob  ?  Probably  he  had  as  many  of  their 
prayers  and  counsels.  But  as  years  advanced,  he  despised  their 
admonitions,  and  filled  their  hearts  with  grief.  As  a  promoter 
of  family  religion,  who  ever  received  such  an  encomium  from 
the  God  of  heaven  as  Abraham  ?  How  tenderly  did  the  good 
man  pray  for  Ishmael !  "  O  that  Ishmael  might  live  before 
thee !"     Yet  how  little  comfort  did  Ishmael  afford. 

Alas  !  in  these  days  of  degeneracy,  parents  much  more  fre- 
quently Avitness  the  vices  of  their  children  than  their  virtues. 
And  even  should  your   children  prove  amiable  and  promising, 

296 


THE     LOSS     OF     CHILDREN.  297 

you  might  live  to   be  the  Avretelicd  witness  of  their  sufferings. 
Some  parents  have  felt  unutterable  agonies  of  this  kind. 

God  may  have  taken  the  lamented  objects  of  your  affection 
from  the  evil  to  come.  AVhen  extraordinary  calamities  are 
coming  on  the  world,  he  frequently  hides  some  of  his  feebler 
children  in  the  grave.  Surely,  at  such  a  portentous  period,  it  is 
happier  for  such  as  are  prepared,  to  be  lodged  in  that  peaceful 
mansion,  than  to  be  exposed  to  calamities  and  distresses  here. 
Thus  intimates  the  prophet  Jeremiah,  "  Weep  not  for  the  dead, 
neither  bemoan  him ;  but  weep  sore  for  hira  that  goeth  away  ; 
for  he  shall  return  no  more,  nor  see  his  native  country."  It  was 
in  a  day  when  the  faith  and  patience  of  the  saints  were  pecu- 
liarly ti'ied,  that  the  voice  from  heaven  said,  "  Write,  ))lessed  are 
the  dead,  which  die  in  the  Lord,  from  henceforth." 

38 


^it  tilt  mail]  0f  a  ^Ijtltr. 

CONDER. 

Whex  I  can  trust  my  all  with  God, 

In  trial's  fearful  hour, 
Bow  all  resigned  beneath  his  rod. 

And  bless  his  sparing  power ; 
A  joy  springs  up  amid  distress, 
A  fountain  in  the  wilderness. 

Oh !  to  be  brought  to  Jesus'  feet. 
Though  sorrows  fix  me  there, 

Is  still  a  privilege;  and  sweet 
The  energies  of  prayer, 

Though  sighs  and  tears  its  language  be. 

If  Christ  be  nigh,  and  smile  on  me. 

An  earthly  mind,  a  faithless  heart. 

He  sees  with  pitying  eye; 
He  will  not  let  his  grace  depart ; 

But,  kind  severity ! 
He  takes  a  hostage  of  our  love 
To  draw  the  parent's  heart  above. 

298 


ON    THE    DEATH    OF    A    CHILD.  299 

There  stands  our  cliild  before  the  Lord, 

In  royal  vesture  drest; 
A  victor  ere  he  drew  the  sword, 

Ere  he  had  toiled  at  rest. 
ISTo  doubts  this  blessed  faith  bedim, 
"We  know  that  Jesus  died  for  him. 

Oh  blessed  be  the  hand  that  gave ; 

Still  blessed  when  it  takes. 
Blessed  be  He  who  smites  to  save. 

Who  heals  the  heart  he  breaks. 
Perfect  and  true  are  all  his  ways, 
Whom  heaven  adores,  and  death  obeys. 


During  the  absence  of  Rabbi  Meir  from  his  house,  his  two 
sons  died,  both  of  them  of  uncommon  beauty  and  enlightened 
by  the  law.  His  wife  bore  them  to  her  chamber,  laid  them  upon 
the  bed,  and  spread  a  white  covering  over  their  bodies.  When 
Rabbi  Meir  returned,  his  first  inquiry  was  for  his  sons.  His 
wife  reached  to  him  a  goblet ;  he  praised  the  Lord  at  the  going 
out  of  the  Sabbath,  drank,  and  again  asked,  "  Where  are  my 
sons,  that  they  too  may  drink  of  the  cup  of  blessing?" 

"  They  will  not  be  far  off,"  she  replied,  and  placed  food  before 
him  that  he  might  eat.  He  was  in  a  gladsome  and  genial  mood; 
and  when  he  had  said  grace,  after  the  meal,  she  thus  addressed 
him  :  "  Rabbi,  with  thy  permission,  I  would  fain  propose  to  thee 
one  question." 

"  Ask  it  then,  my  love,"  replied  he. 

"A  few  days  ago  a  person  entrusted  some  jewels  to  my  custody, 
and  now  he  demands  them ;  should  I  give  them  back  to  him  ?" 

"This  is  a  question,"  said  Rabbi  Meir,  "which  my  wife  should 
not  have  thought  it  necessary  to  ask.  What !  M'ould'st  thou 
hesitate  or  be  reluctant  to  restore  to  every  one  his  own  ?" 

"  No,"  she  replied,  "  but  yet  I  thought  it  best  not  to  restore 

■*•  From  the  Mishoa  of  the  Rabbins. 
300 


A     STORY.  301 

them  without  acquainting  thee  therewith."  She  then  led  hira  to 
their  chamber,  and  stepping  to  the  bed,  took  the  white  covering 
from  the  dead  bodies. 

"  Ah !  my  sons,  my  sons  !"  loudly  lamented  their  father,  "  my 
sons  !  the  light  of  my  eyes,  and  the  light  of  my  understanding. 
I  was  your  father — but  ye  were  my  teachers  in  the  law." 

The  mother  turned  away  and  wept  bitterly.  At  length,  she 
took  the  husband  by  the  hand  and  said,  "  Rabbi,  did'st  thou  not 
teach  me  that  we  must  not  be  reluctant  to  restore  that  which  was 
entrusted  to  our  keeping  ?  See,  the  Lord  gave  and  the  Lord  hath 
taken  away,  and  blessed  be  the  name  of  the  Lord !" 

"  Blessed  be  the  name  of  the  Lord  !"  echoed  the  holy  man  ; 
"  and  blessed  be  his  o-lorious  name  for  ever." 


E\t  Mokt  of  §pnu0. 

W.  J.  PABODIE. 

I  HEAR  thy  voice,  O  Spring, 
Its  flute-like  tones  are  floating  through  the  air, 
Winning  my  soul  with  their  wild  ravishing, 

From  earth's  heart-wearying  care. 

Divinely  sweet  thy  song; 
But  yet,  methinks,  as  near  the  groves  I  pass, 
LoAV  sighs  on  viewless  wings  are  borne  along. 

Tears  gem  the  springing  grass. 

For  where  are  they,  the  young, 
The  loved,  the  beautiful,  who,  when  thy  voice 
A  year  agone,  along  these  valleys  rung, 

Did  hear  thee  and  rejoice? 

Thou  seek'st  for  them  in  vain : 
No  more  they'll  greet  thee  in  thy  joyous  round ; 
Calmly  they  sleep  beneath  the  murmuring  main, 

Or  moulder  in  the  ground. 

Yet  peace,  my  heart,  be  still ! 
Look  upward  to  yon  azure  sky,  and  know 

302 


THE    VOICE    OF     SPKING.  303 

To  heavenlier  music  now  their  bosoms  tlirill, 
Where  bahnier  breezes  blow. 

For  them  hath  bloomed  a  Spring, 
Whose  flowers  perennial  deck  a  holier  sod, 
Whose  music  is  the  song  that  seraphs  sing, 

Whose  light,  the  smile  of  God, 


JAMES  MONTGOMERY. 

Friend  after  friend  departs ; 

Who  hath  not  lost  a  friend  ? 
There  is  no  union  here  of  hearts, 

That  finds  not  here  an  end : 
Were  this  frail  world  our  final  rest, 
Living  or  dying  none  were  blest. 

Beyond  the  flight  of  time, 
Beyond  the  reign  of  death, 

There  surely  is  some  blessed  clime. 
Where  life  is  not  a  breath ; 

Nor  life's  aflPections  transient  fire, 

Whose  sparks  fly  upwards  and  expire. 

There  is  a  world  above. 

Where  parting  is  unknown ; 

A  long  eternity  of  love, 

Formed  for  the  good  alone ; 

And  faith  beholds  the  dying  here, 

Translated  to  that  glorious  sphere. 

304 


NOT    LOST,    BUT    GONE    BEFORE.  305 

Thus  star  by  star  declines, 

'Till  all  are  passed  away, 
As  morning  high  and  liigher  shines, 

To  pure  and  perfect  day ; 
Nor  sink  those  stars  in  empty  night, 
But  hide  themselves  in  heaven's  own  light. 

3» 


Sljrcc   little   ^rabcs. 

MRS.  LYDIA  H.  SIGOURNEY. 

I  SOUGHT  at  twilight's  pensive  hour 

The  path  which  mourners  tread, 
Where  many  a  marble  stone  reveals 

The  City  of  the  dead; — 
The  city  of  the  dead,  where  all 

From  feverish  toil  repose. 
While  round  their  beds,  the  simple  flower, 

In  sweet  profusion  blows. 

And  there  I  marked  a  pleasant  spot 

Enclosed  with  tender  care, 
Where  side  by  side  three  infants  lay, 

The  only  tenants  there, — 
Nor  weed,  nor  bramble  raised  its  head 

To  mar  the  hallowed  scene, 
And  'twas  a  mother's  tears,  methought, 

Which  kept  that  turf  so  green. 

The  eldest  was  a  gentle  girl. 
She  sunk  as  rose-buds  fall, 

306 


THREE    LITTLE    GRAVES.  307 

And  then  two  little  brothers  came, 

They  were  their  parents'  all, — 
Their  parents'  all ! — and  ah,  how  oft 

The  moan  of  sickness  rose, 
Before,  within  these  narrow  mounds, 

They  found  a  long  repose. 

Their  cradle  sports  beside  the  hearth. 

At  winter's  eve,  are  o'er; 
Their  tuneful  tones,  so  full  of  mirth, 

Delight  the  ear  no  more : — 
Yet  still  the  thrilling  echo  lives. 

And  many  a  lisping  word 
Is  treasured  in  affection's  heart, 

By  grieving  memory  stirred. 

Three  little  graves ! — Three  little  graves ! 

Come  hither,  ye  who  see 
Your  blooming  babes  around  you  smile, 

A  blissful  company, — 
And  of  those  childless  parents  think 

AA'^ith  sympathizing  pain. 
And  soothe  them  with  a  Saviour's  words, 
"  Your  dead  shall  rise  again." 


^0   ©^rcttbtb  ^axcnis^ 

REV.  DR.  SCHADFFLER. 

It  seems  to  me,  we  need  infant  choirs  in  heaven,  to  make  up 
full  concert  to  the  angelic  symphony.  Who  will  sing  like  unto 
them,  of  the  manger,  and  the  SAvaddling  clothes,  and  of  the 
Lord  of  all  drawing  nourishment  from  the  bosom  of  a  mortal 
mother!  True  these  are  themes  of  infinite  interest,  and  the 
delight  and  wonder  of  angels.  But  ah  !  they  are  too  tender 
for  the  archangel's  powerful  trump — too  tender  for  the 
thundering  notes  of  seraphim  and  cherubim.  We  must  have 
infant  choirs  in  heaven.  When  on  some  Sabbath-school 
anniversary  the  multitude  of  little  children  come  together,  and 
after  hearing  some  words  of  tender  and  aifectionate  exhortation 
and  advice,  they  strike  up  their  artless  hymn,  all  the  assembly 
is  moved  to  tears  and  the  single-hearted  little  ones  carry  away 
from  the  Masters  in  Israel  the  palm  of  eloquence ;  and  the  thrill 
of  their  tender  voices  is  felt  vibrating  in  the  hearts  of  those  who 
heard  them,  when  the  most  powerful  speeches  are  long  for- 
gotten. 

We  must  have  Infant  Choirs  in  Heaven !  And  is  it  no 
privilege  to  know  one  of  our  dear  ones  among  them  ?  What  an 
interest  does  not  a  father  or  a  mother  feel   in   listening  to  the 

30S 


THE     BEREAVED     PARENTS.  309 

sweet  voices  of  the  children  when  they  know  their  beloved  child 
is  among  thft  happy  songsters.  And  is  it  not  incomparably  more 
precious  to  know  them  among  the  songsters  in  heaven?  And 
oh  !  with  what  additional  interest,  with  what  quickened  anticipa- 
tions do  I  now  look  beyond  the  grave !  I  think  of  the  moment 
when  I  shall  fold  my  little  ones  to  a  father's  bosom  again  and 
that  for  evei',  and  tears  of  joy  and  gratitude  flow  down  my  cheeks 
involuntarily.  Even  now  while  I  am  writing,  the  voices  of  two 
of  my  cliildrcn,  is  it  possible  ? — yes,  of  my  children  are  singing 
praises  unto  Him  who  became  a  poor  babe  and  a  man  of  sorrows 
for  them  and  for  all  men.  O,  let  them  sing  then !  I  can  only 
Avish  to  join  them  soon  ! 

And  now,  your  dear  boy  has  gone  to  unite  with  them.  And 
while  you  read  this,  and  it  may  be  weep,  he  raises  his  growing 
notes  of  praise  and  gratitude  to  the  Saviour  of  all  men  and  learns 
in  one  minute  more  of  God,  and  Christ,  and  heaven,  than  you 
would  ever  have  taught  him  in  all  your  lives.  Oh  !  leave  them 
there — all  of  them,  and  let  us  but  become  daily  more  heavenly- 
minded,  and  more  ready  to  join  the 

"Angels  who  stand  round  the  throne. 
And  view  my  Immanuel's  face." 

And  the — 

"  Saints  who  stand  nearer  than  they  ! !" 

All  those  redeemed  by  the  precious  blood  of  Christ,  and  called 
close  around  the  steps  of  His  Throne  to  sing  the  song, — not  of 
creation  and  providence  only,  but  of  redeeming  love  and  sovereign 
grace. 


MARY  HOWITT. 

We  meet  around  the  hearth — thou  art  not  there, 
Over  our  household  joys  hath  passed  a  gloom : 
Beside  the  fire  we  see  thy  empty  chair, 

And  miss  thy  sweet  voice  in  the  silent  room, — 
"\Miat  hopeless  longings  after  thee  arise ! 

Even  for  the  touch  of  thy  small  hand  I  pine, 
And  for  the  sound  of  thy  dear  little  feet — 
Alas !  tears  dim  my  eyes. 
Meeting  in  every  place  some  joy  of  thine. 
Or  when  fair  cliildren  pass  me  in  the  street. 

Beauty  was  on  thy  cheek — and  thou  didst  seem 
A  privileged  being — chartered  from  decay  ; 

And  thy  free  spirit,  like  a  mountain  stream 
That  hath  no  ebb,  kept  on  its  cheerful  way: 
Thy  laugh  was  like  the  inspiring  breath  of  spring, 

That  thrills  the  heart,  and  cannot  be  unfelt; 

The  sun,  the  moon,  the  green  leaves,  and  the  flowers, 
And  every  living  thing, 

310 


THE    LOST    ONE.  311 

Were  a  strong  joy  to  thee — thy  spirit  dwelt 
Gladly  in  life,  rejoicing  in  its  powers. 

Oh!  what  had  death  to  do  with  one  like  thee? 

Thou  young  and  loving  one,  whose  soul  did  cling, 
Even  as  the  ivy  clings  unto  the  tree, 

To  those  who  loved  thee — thou  whose  tears  would  spring, 

Dreading  a  short  day's  absence,  didst  thou  go 
Alone  into  the  future  Avorld  unseen. 

Solving  each  awful,  untried  mystery, 
The  unknown  to  know. 
To  be  where  mortal  traveller  hath  not  been — 

Whence  welcome  tidings  cannot  come  from  thee? 

ISIy  happy  boy ! — and  murmur  I,  that  death 

Over  thy  young  and  buoyant  frame  had  power? 

In  yon  bright  land,  love  never  perisheth, 

Hope  may  not  mock,  nor  grief  the  heart  devour: 
The  beautiful  are  round  thee — thou  dost  keep 

Within  the  Eternal  Presence,  and  no  more 
Mayst  death,  or  pain,  or  separation  dread: 
Thy  bright  eyes  cannot  weep, 

Nor  they  with  whom  thou  art  thy  loss  deplore, 
For  ye  are  of  the  living — not  the  dead. 

Thou  dweller  with  the  Unseen,  who  hast  explored 

The  immense  unknown — thou  to  whom  Death  and  Heaven 

Are  mysteries  no  more,  whose  soul  is  stored 

With  knowledge  for  which  men  have  vainly  striven. 


312  CHILDREN    IN     HEAVEN. 

Beloved  child!  oh  when  shall  I  lie  down 
With  thee  beneath  fair  trees  that  cannot  fade? 

When  from  the  immortal  rivers  quench  my  thirst  ? 
Life's  morning  passeth  on, 

Noon  speeds,  and  cometh  the  dim  evening's  shade 
And  night: — anon  is  every  cloud  dispersed, 

And  o'er  the  hills  of  Heaven  the  Eternal  Dav  shall  burst! 


f  Mather's  mtmcni. 

WILLIAM  HOWITT. 

Two  creatures  of  a  pleasant  life  were  mine; 
My  house  they  filled  with  a  perpetual  joy ; 
Twin  lamps  that  chased  all  darkness  did  they  shine — 
My  fairy  girl  and  merry-hearted  boy. 
I  never  dreamed  Death  would  their  mirth  destroy, 
For  they  were  dwelling  'mid  life's  freshest  springs, 
And  I  was  busied  with  a  fond  employ, 
Ranging  the  future  on  Hope's  fearless  wings, 
And  gathering  for  them  thence  how  many  pleasant  things! 

In  truth,  I  was  a  proud  and  joyful  man, 
As  from  the  floor  unto  the  very  roof 
Their  murmured  bursts  of  joy  and  laughter  ran, 
And  jocund  shouts  which  needed  no  reproof — 
All  weariness,  all  gloom  was  kept  aloof. 
By  their  quaint  shows  and  fancies  ever  new. 
Now  bending  age  with  stafi'  in  its  behoof. 
Now  Island  Crusoe  and  "  Man  Friday "  true. 
Now  shipmates  far  at  sea  with  all  their  jovial  crew. 

40  313 


B14  CHILDREN    IN    HEAVEN. 

But  a  dark  dream  has  swept  across  my  brain, 
A  wild,  a  dismal  dream  that  will  not  break — 
A  rush  of  fear — an  agony  of  pain — 
Pangs  and  suspense  that  inly  made  me  quake. — 
My  boy !  my  boy !  I  saw  thy  sweet  eyes  take 
A  strange  unearthly  lustre,  and  then  fade ; 
And  oh  !  I  deemed  my  heart  must  surely  break. 
As,  stooping,  I  thy  pleasant  locks  surveyed, 
And  felt  that  thou  must  die,  and  they  in  dust  be  laid. 

Oh !  precious  in  thy  life  of  happiness ! 
Daily  and  hourly  valued  more  and  more, 
Yet,  to  the  few  brief  days  of  thy  distress, 
How  faint  all  love  my  spirit  knew  before! 
I  turn  and  turn,  and  ponder  o'er  and  o'er. 
Insatiate,  all  that  sad  and  dreamy  time 
Thy  words  thrill  through  me — in  my  fond  heart's  core 
I  heard  thy  sighs,  and  tears  shed  for  no  crime. 
And  thy  most  patient  love  sent  from  a  happier  clime. 

How  dim  and  dismal  is  my  home ! — a  sense 
Of  thee  spreads  through  it  like  a  haunting  ill; 
For  thou — for  ever,  thou  hast  vanished  thence! 
This — this  pursues  me,  pass  where'er  I  will, 
And  all  the  traces  thou  hast  left  but  fill 
The  hollow  of  thine  absence  with  more  pain ; 
I  toil  to  keep  thy  living  image  still. 
But  fancy  feebly  doth  her  part  maintain ; 
I  see,  yet  see  thee  not,  my  child !  as  I  would  fain., 


A  father's  lament.  315 

In  dreams  for  ever  thy  dear  form  I  grasp, 
In  noonday  reveries  do  I  rove — then  start —  , 

And  certainty,  as  with  an  iron  clasp. 
Shuts  down  once  more  to  misery  my  heart ; 
The  world  from  thee  as  a  shorn  flower  doth  part, 
Ending  its  care  and  knowledge  with  "  Farewell !" 
But  in  my  soul  a  shrined  life  thou  art, 
Ordained  with  memory  and  strong  hope  to  dwell, 
And  with  all  pure  desires  to  sanctify  thy  cell. 

Spring  like  a  spirit  is  upon  the  earth — 
Forth  gush  the  flowers  and  fresh  leaves  of  the  tree. 
And  I  had  planned,  with  wonder  and  with  mirth — 
The  bird,  the  nest,  the  blossom,  and  the  bee 
To  fill  thy  boyish  bosom — till  its  glee 
O'erflowed  my  own  w'ith  transport!     In  far  years 
I  felt  thy  hand  in  mine,  by  stream  and  lea, 
Wandering  in  gladness — But  these  blinding  tears. 
Why  will  they  thus  gush  forth,  though  richer  hope  appears? 

Far  other  land  thy  happy  feet  have  trod. 
Far  other  scenes  thy  tender  soul  has  known — 
The  golden  city  of  the  eternal  God, 
The  rainbow-splendours  of  the  eternal  throne. 
Through  the  pearl  gate  how  lightly  hast  thou  flown ! 
The  streets  of  lucid  gold — the  chrysolite 
Foundations  have  received  thee — dearest  one! 
That  thought  alone  can  break  affliction's  miglit. 
Feeling  that  tliou  art  blest,  my  heart  again  is  liglit. 


816  CHILDREN     IN     HEAVEN. 

Thanks  to  tlic  Framer  of  life's  mystery ! 
Tlianks  to  the  Illuminator  of  the  grave ! 
A'ainly  on  time's  obscure  and  tossing  sea 
liope  did  I  seek,  and  comfort  did  I  crave; 
But  lie  who  made,  neglecteth  not  to  save. 
j\Iy  child ! — thou  hast  allied  me  to  liie  blest : 
I  cannot  Ikir  what  thou  didst  meekly  brave; 
I  cannot  cease  to  long  with  thee  to  rest ; 
And  heaven  is  doubly  heaven  with  thee,  with  thee  possessed. 


MRS.  S.  H.  0. 

"These  were  redeemed  from  among  men,  being  the  first  fri  its  unto  Ood,  and   to 
the  Lamb." — Rev.  xiv.  4. 

Redeemed  from  earth,  my  gentle  child, 

Now  thou  art  of  that  seraph  band, 
The  pure  in  heart,  the  undefiled, 

Who  roam  the  bright  immortal  land. 
By  crystal  streams,  through  flowery  meads, 
Still  following  where  the  Saviour  leads. 

There  doth  the  tender  bud  expand, 

We  watched  with  many  a  sigh  and  tear, 
Too  fragile  for  this  wintry  land, 

Too  pure  for  earth's  polluted  sphere. 
Twelve  moons  marked  thy  gentle  bloom, 
The  thirteenth  beamed  upon  thy  tomb. 

Sweet  one !    when  fondly  on  my  breast, 

I  hushed  thee  to  thy  soft  repose. 
And  watched  the  wing  of  slumber  rest 

On  violet  eye — and  cheek  of  rose — 
While  gazing  on  thy  trusting  eye, 
How  could  I  deem  that  tliou  would'st  die! 

317 


318  CHILDREN    IN    HEAVEN. 

That  thou  would'st  die!    and  from  our  bower 
Withdraw  the  sunshine  thou  hadst  shed, 

While  grief  should  bid  her  purple  flower, 
Spring  up  where'er  our  footsteps  tread; 

And  hopes,  and  dreams,  once  green  and  high, 

Like  autumn  leaves  should  lowly  lie. 

When  on  thy  pale,  cold  brow  of  snow 

I  pressed  the  last  fond  kiss  of  love. 
Such  love  as  only  mothers  know — 

A  stream,  whose  fountain  is  above, 
I  felt  that  life  was  drear,  and  wild. 
Bereft  of  thee,  my  gentle  child ! 

When  kneeling  by  the  sacred  tomb. 
That  held  the  form  so  prized,  so  dear, 

A  voice  dispelled  my  bosom's  gloom 
And  whispered  soft,  she  is  not  here ; 

Not  here,  not  here,  beyond  the  skies. 

Her  spirit  lives  in  Paradise. 

What  rapture  thrilled  through  every  vein, 

As  faith,  with  eagle-piercing  eye, 
Beheld  her  in  that  seraph  train. 

The  infant  army  of  the  sky — 
By  crystal  streams,  by  flowery  meads. 
Still  following  where  the  Saviour  leads. 

And  now,  though  years  have  onward  sped. 

Through  tears  and  smiles,  through  light  and  gloom, 


MY    CHILD.  319 


Still  memory  o'er  the  lovely  dead, 

Bids  flowers  of  fairest  verdure  bloom — 
And  wakes  her  harp  all  sweet,  and  low, 
Whence  soft,  delicious  numbers  flow. 

Soft  breathing  tones,  but  not  of  wo, 
Though  lonely  is  the  mother's  heart; 

And  time's  swift  flight  is  all  too  slow, 
For  loved  and  cherished  friends  apart: 

Those  gentle  airs  with  hope  are  rife. 

And  whisper  of  eternal  life. 


feob   is   iwt  ©fab. 

There  lived  in  the  east  of  Scotland,  a  pious  clergyman,  Avho 
had  presided  for  a  number  of  years,  over  a  small  but  respecta- 
ble congregation.  In  the  midst  of  his  active  career  of  useful- 
ness, he  was  suddenly  removed  by  death,  leaving  behind  him  a 
wife  and  a  number  of  helj)less  children. 

The  small  stipend  allowed  him  by  his  congregation,  had  been 
barely  sufficient  to  meet  the  current  expenses  of  his  family ; 
and  at  his  death  no  visible  means  were  left  for  their  support. 
The  death  of  her  husband  preyed  deeply  upon  the  heart  of  the 
poor  afflicted  widow,  while  the  dark  prospect  which  the  future 
presented,  filled  her  mind  with  the  most  gloomy  apprehensions. 
By  her  lonely  fireside  she  sat — the  morning  after  her  sad  be- 
reavement— lamenting  her  forlorn  and  destitute  condition,  when 
her  little  son,  a  boy  of  five  years  of  age,  entered  the  room. 
Seeing  the  deep  distress  of  his  mother,  he  stole  softly  to  her 
side,  and  placing  his  little  hand  in  hers,  looked  wistfully  into 
her  face,  and  said  :  "  jMother,  mother,  is  God  dead  ?"  Soft  as 
the  gentle  whisper  of  an  angel,  did  the  simjile  accent  of  the 
dear  boy  fall  upon  the  ear  of  the  disconsolate,  and  almost  heart- 
broken mother.  A  gleam  of  heavenly  radiance  lighted  up,  for 
a  moment,  her  pale  features.     Then  snatching  up  her  little  boy, 

320 


GOD     IS     NOT     DEAD.  321 

and  pressing  liini  fondly  to  her  bosom,  she  exclaimed :  "  No, 
no,  my  son,  God  is  not  dead ;  he  lives,  and  has  promised  to  be 
a  father  to  the  fatherless,  a  husband  to  the  widow.  His  prom- 
ises are  sure  and  steadfast,  and  upon  them  I  will  firmly  and  im- 
plicitly rely."     Her  tears  were  dried,  and  her  murmurings  for 

ever  hushed. 
41 


|ittk  ^tllic's  last  ^orbs. 

C.  W.  B. 

The  Sabbath-day  was  nearly  spent, 

The  week  that  Willie  died, 
And  o'er  his  pillow  still  we  bent, 

Or  kneeling  at  his  side 
We  watched  the  waves  that  came  and  went 

In  life's  fast-ebbing  tide. 

Through  all  the  silent  hours — the  deep. 

Deep  silence  of  our  woe — 
We  watched,  with  eyes  that  could  not  weep, 

The  parting  spirit  go ; 
We  heard  the  moanings  of  his  sleep, 

His ,  breathing  faint  and  slow. 

But  ere  his  upward  flight  he  took, 

The  fevered  slumber  broke ; 
His  mind  the  troubled  dream  forsook; 

Our  dying  Willie  woke ; 
And  with  an  earnest  heavenward  look, 

These  precious  words  he  spoke: 

322 


LITTLE  Willie's  last  words.  323 

"The  blessed  Jesus  surely  died 

To  save  us  from  our  sin." 
He  said  no  more,  nor  turned  aside 

His  gaze,  that  pierced  within 
Those  gates  of  glory  opened  wide, 

When  soon  he  entered  in. 
****** 

I  thank  thee,  Father!    Lord  of  light, 

That,  hidden  from  the  wise. 
Thou  hast  revealed  to  infant  sight 

The  secrets  of  the  skies. 
Yea,  Father !    even  so,  for  right 

It  seemeth  in  thine  eyes. 

I  thank  and  praise,  O  Saviour  Christ! 

Thy  mercy  rich  and  free, 
That  six  short  cloudless  years  sufficed 

To  bring  our  child  to  thee; 
Thus  early  to  thine  arms  enticed, 

Suffered  thy  face  to  see. 

And  when  the  Holy  and  the  Just, 

Who  taketh  what  he  gave, 
Shall  call  me  to  that  sacred  dust 

Reposing  in  the  grave. 
Be  mine  as  sure  and  simple  trust 

That  Jesus  died  to  save. 


Iljc  little   |oj)  t%Lit  Srctr. 

I  AM  all  alone  in  my  chamber  now, 

And  the  midnight  hour  is  near; 
And  the  faggot's  crack  and  the  clock's  dull  tick 

Are  the  only  sounds  I  hear ; 
And  over  my  soul  in  its  solitude 

Sweet  feelings  of  sadness  glide, 
For  my  heart  and  my  eyes  are  full  when  I  think 

Of  the  little  boy  that  died. 

I  went  one  night  to  my  father's  house. 

Went  home  to  the  dear  ones  all. 
And  softly  I  opened  the  garden  gate, 

And  softly  the  door  of  the  hall. 
My  mother  came  out  to  meet  her  son — 

She  kissed  me  and  then  she  sighed, 
And  her  head  fell  on  my  neck,  and  she  wept 

For  the  little  boy  that  died. 

I  shall  miss  him  when  the  flowers  come, 

In  the  garden  where  he  played; 
I  shall  miss  him  more  by  the  fireside. 

When  the  flowers  have  all  decayed. 

324 


THE    LITTLE    BOY    THAT    DIED.  325 

I  sl)a]l  see  his  toys  and  his  empty  chair, 

And  the  hoi'se  he  used  to  ride ; 
And  they  will  speak  with  a  silent  speech, 

Of  the  little  boy  that  died. 

We  shall  go  home  to  our  Father's  house — 

To  our  Father's  house  in  the  skies, 
Where  the  hope  of  our  souls  shall  have  no  blight, 

Our  love  no  broken  ties. 
We  shall  roam  on  the  banks  of  the  river  of  peace, 

And  bathe  in  its  blissful  tide ; 
And  one  of  the  joys  of  our  heaven  shall  be 

The  little  boy  that  died. 


Snfant  Saptism. 

Let  us  consider  the  feelings  with  which  parents  should  retire 
from  the  baptismal  service. 

It  is  a  solemn  moment  when  they  take  the  child  away  from 
the  altar.  They  have  given  it  to  God ;  and  they  bear  it  away, 
as  the  mother  of  Moses  did  her  own  son,  to  bring  it  up  for  an- 
other, who,  in  this  case,  is  God.  They  have  by  their  vows 
promised  that  the  will  of  God  concerning  their  child  shall  be 
their  will,  so  that  the  question  of  its  life  or  death  is  left  implic- 
itly with  him.  Though  their  hearts  will  bleed  if  it  should  be 
taken  away,  yet,  by  the  baptismal  service,  they  have  engaged  to 
consider  the  child  henceforth  as  entirely  at  God's  disposal ;  and 
whenever  they  look  upon  it  hereafter,  the  feeling  which  they 
are  to  have  is  expressed  by  these  words,  Lent,  not  given.  If  it 
dies,  they  will  remember  its  baptism  and  their  vows,  and  the 
peace  of  God,  which  passeth  all  understanding,  wdll  steal  into 
their  breaking  hearts.  If  it  lives,  it  is  to  be  trained  up  for  that 
God  to  whom  it  has  been  given. 

326 


finiiicr  at  <x  ^^ilb's   fctptism. 

Eternal  God,  iu  whom  we  live, 
From  wliom  all  blessings  we  receive ; 
Ourselves  and  ours  we  owe  to  thee, 
And  thine  we  would  for  ever  be. 

To  thee  our  child  this  day  we  bring, 
Our  willing,  grateful  offering ; 
Accept  him,  Lord,  as  henceforth  thine, 
To  thee  we  all  our  rio-ht  resign. 

Lord,  in  the  covenant  of  thy  grace, 
Grant  this  dear  child  an  humble  place; 
And  with  the  outward  seal  now  given, 
Prepare  him  for  a  home  in  heaven. 

32? 


There  is  no  monument  to  mark  the  spot; 

Two  feet  of  grass  are  all  that  o'er  it  wave; 
The  stranger  passes,  but  he  heeds  it  not; 
It  is  an  infant's  grave. 

But  there  are  two  who  know  the  spot  full  well, 

And  visit  it,  full  oft,  at  evening  tide ; 
For  when  the  child  entombed  within  it  fell, 
Fell  all  their  earthly  pride. 

The  mother  as  she  decks  it  round  with  flowers, 

Waters  with  tears  the  little  new-grown  sod ; 
The  father  bends  his  knee,  and  sadly  pours 
His  vexed  soul  to  God. 

Grieve  not,  ye  sad  ones !  does  the  spirit  sleep  ? 

'Tis  with  the  Lord,  who  took  but  what  he  gave, 
Angelic  spirits  nightly  vigils  keep 
Over  your  infant's  grave. 

328 


^^e  §iuv  in  t^e  mi&t* 


FENELON. 

In  one  of  those  quiet,  secluded  valleys  of  the  Alps  near  the 
lake's  wild  margin,  embosomed  by  snow-crowned  mountains,  lies 
the  little  village  of  Geneva.  In  its  midst  stood  the  moss- 
covered  cottage  of  Bolien.  The  departing  radiance  of  a  sum- 
mer's sun  played  among  the  leaves  of  the  flowers,  and  the  mour 
tains  and  tall  trees  were  inverted  in  the  pure  waters,  now  stilled 
beneath  the  deep  blue  sky  of  heaven.  The  windows  of  Bolien's 
cottage  were  thrown  open,  the  curtains  drawn  aside,  and  there 
watched  the  wife  of  the  faithful  pastor  over  her  dying  child. 
Now  she  parted  the  damp  curls  from  his  brow,  and  then  pressed 
her  lips  on  his  little  cold  fingers,  which  she  held  in  her  hand. 
Fervently  the  silent  prayer  ascended,  that  the  night  of  sorrow 
might  pass,  and  the  stoim  of  agony  be  stilled  in  her  bosom  ' 
then,  as  the  babe  turned  restlessly  in  her  lap,  in  a  low  tone  sh'_ 
sung. 

Sleep,  baby,  sleep, 
Once  more  upon  my  breast,  ' 

Thine  aching  head  shall  rest, 

In  quiet  sleep. 

Sleep,  baby,  sleep, 
Sweetly  thine  eye  is  closing,  « 

Calmly  thou'it  now  reposing, 
42  329 


330  .  CHILDREN    IN     HEAVEN. 

In  slumber  deep. 

Sleep,  angel  baby,  sleep: 
Not  in  thy  cradle  bed 
Shall  rest  thy  little  head, 
Eut  with  the  quiet  dead. 

In  dreamless  sleep. 

As  the  mother  looked  on  her  hoy,  she  saw  that  his  little  limbs 
were  stiff  with  the  icy  chill  of  death.  A  smile  was  on  the 
cherub  face,  and  the  long  lashes  were  closed  over  the  blue  eyes. 
Sweet  Babe  !  no  wonder  that  thy  mother's  heart  is  broken  when 
she  looks  on  her  only  child, — dead  !  The  kind-hearted  villagers 
made  a  little  grave  among  the  trees, — and  on  the  third  day,  when 
the  morning  sun  shone  upon  the  Alpine  mountains,  they  took 
from  the  mother's  bosom  her  little  oue,  and  laid  it  in  the  ground; 
and  then  they  looked  along  the  narrow  and  wild  defile  of  the 
mountain  for  their  Pastor,  who  had  been  some  days  absent. 

At  evening  the  wife  of  Bolien  sat  alone  in  her  cottage.  She 
looked  upon  tlie  lake.  A  beautiful  light  was  on  its  waters.  She 
raised  her  head.  It  was  tlie  star  in  the  east ;  and  it  came  and 
stood  over  the  place  where  the  young  child  was.  Upon  her 
darkened  soul  it  rose  as  the  star  of  hope — the  dawning  of  that 
light,  which  had  been  for  a  while  withdra^^■n.  "  I  shall  rejoice 
in  Him  who  was  born  King  of  the  Jews, — for  he  hath  gathered 
the  sheep  in  his  arms, — and  he  carries  the  lambs  in  his  bosom," 
she  exclaimed, — and  her  feelings  vrere  calmed, — her  broken 
spirit  found  repose. 

That  night  the  villagers  welcomed  their  beloved  Pastor.  No 
one  dared  tell  him  his  only  son  rested  beneath  the  sods  of  the 
valley.     As  he  passed  from  among  them,  into   his  own   cottage, 


THE    STAR    IN    THE    EAST.  331 

from  which  the  little  light  was  faintly  gleaming,  they  uttered  the 
heartfelt  benediction,  "  Peace  be  within  this  dwelling."  The  em- 
brace of  the  Pastor  and  his  wife  was  close  and  affectionate,  and 
then  the  eye  of  the  father  glanced  on  the  cradle  which  stood  in 
its  accustomed  place  "  The  baby  sleeps,"  he  said.  "  Blessed 
be  God  who  has  preserved  you  both  !"  The  mother  turned  to 
wipe  the  tears  from  her  eyes,  as  she  replied,  "  Yes,  the  baby 
sleeps, — you  cannot  wake  him."  The  fearful  truth  did  not  enter 
the  mind  of  Bolien,  and  he  seated  himself  to  partake  of  some 
simple  refreshment  which  M'as  set  before  him.  "  Your  counte- 
nance is  sad,"  he  exclaimed,  as  he  looked  upon  the  face  of  his 
wife.  "  Methinks  your  heart  should  be  full  of  joy.  What  shall 
we  render  to  the  Lord  for  all  his  goodness  ?"  The  struggle  in 
the  countenance  of  the  afflicted  mother  was  too  agonizinsc  to 
escape  the  notice  of  Bolien,  and,  as  he  took  her  hand  in  his,  he 
exclaimed,  "Tell  me,  I  beseech  you,  what  has  happened. 
Christianity  I  know  is  not  secure,  even  among  the  Alpine  valleys. 
It  may  be,  that  we  are  yet  to  cross  the  mountains  of  ice  and 
snow,  and  seek  shelter  from  those  who  persecute  us  for  righteous- 
ness' sake.  Tell  me,  what  has  befallen  us,  that  you  weep  thus?" 
The  eye  of  the  heart-stricken  mother  glanced  towards  the  cradle 
of  her  babe,  and  there  needed  no  comment.  The  Pastor  fell  on 
his  knees,  and  uttered,  "  Our  child  is  dead .'" — then  buried  his 
face  in  his  hands,  and  wept  aloud. 

An  hour  passed, — and  the  Pastor  and  his  wife  mingled  their 
tears  at  the  grave  of  their  child.  Sweetly  did  the  star  in  the 
east  shine  on  that  little  mound.  As  Bolien  uncovered  his  head, 
and  gazed  upAvard,  he  exclaimed,  "  The  Star  of  Bethlehem  shall 


332  CHILDREN    IN    HEAVEN. 

be  our  guitle  to  that  land  which  needeth  no  star  to  shine  upon  it! 
for  the  glory  of  God  shall  lighten  it ;  and  the  Lamb  is  the  light 
thereof !" 

We  must  enter  into  the  designs  of  God,  and  try  to  receive  the 
comforts  that  he  bestows.  We  shall  soon  find  him  whom  we 
seem  to  have  lost;  we  approach  him  with  rapid  strides.  Yet  a  lit- 
tle time  and  we  shall  shed  no  more  tears.  We  shall  die  ourselves. 
Him  whom  we  love  lives,  and  will  never  die.  This  is  what  we 
believe;  if  we  believe  it  rightly,  we  shall  feel  in  respect  to  our 
friends  as  Jesus  Christ  wished  that  his  disciples  should  feel  with 
regard  to  him  when  he  rose  to  heaven.  "  If  you  loved  me," 
said  he,  "you  would  rejoice"  in  my  glory.  But  we  weep  for 
ourselves.  For  a  true  friend  of  God,  who  has  been  faithful  and 
humble,  we  can  only  rejoice  at  his  happiness,  and  at  the  blessing 
that  he  has  left  upon  those  who  belonged  to  him  on  earth.  Let 
your  grief  then  be  «Aot)ied  by  the  hand  of  him  who  has  afflicted 
you. 


JAMES  MONTGOMERY. 

I  LOVED  thee,  daughter  of  my  heart  j 
My  child,  I  loved  thee  dearly ; 

And  though  we  only  met  to  part, 
— How  sweetly  !    how  severely  ! — 

Nor  life  nor  death  can  sever 

My  soul  from  thine  for  ever. 

Thy  days,  my  little  one,  ^vere  few ; 

An  angel's  morning  visit. 
That  came  and  vanished  with  the  dew; 

'Twas  here,  'tis  gone,  where  is  it? 
Yet  did'st  thou  leave  behind  thee 
A  clue  for  love  to  find  thee. 

The  eye,  the  lip,  the  cheek,  the  brow, 
The  hands  stretched  forth  in  gladness, 

All  life,  joy,  rapture,  beauty  now; 
Then  dashed  with  infant  sadness ; 

Till,  brightening  by  transition, 

Returned  the  fairy  vision  : — ■ 

333 


334  CHILDREN    IN    HEAVEN. 

"Where  are  tliey  now? — those  smiles,  those  tears, 

Thy  mother's  darling  treasure? 
She  sees  them  still,  and  still  she  hears 

Thy  tones  of  pain  or  pleasure, 
To  her  quick  pulse  revealing 
Unutterable  feeling. 

Hushed  in  a  moment  on  her  breast, 
Life,  at  the  well-spring  drinking  j 

Then  cradled  on  her  lap  to  rest 
In  rosy  slumber  sinking, 

Thy  dreams — no  thought  can  guess  themj 

And  mine — no  tongue  express  them. 

For  then  this  waking  eye  could  see, 

In  many  a  vain  vagary. 
The  things  that  never  were  to  be, 

Imaginations  airy ; 
Fond  hopes  that  mothers  cherish. 
Like  still-born  babes  to  perish. 

Mine  perished  on  thy  early  bier; 

No, — changed  to  forms  more  glorious. 
They  flourish  in  a  higher  sphere. 

O'er  time  and  death  victorious ; 
Yet  would  these  arms  have  chained  thee, 
And  long  from  heaven  detained  thee. 

Sarah !    my  last,  my  youngest  love, 
The  crown  of  everv  other! 


A  mother's  lament.  335 

Though  thou  art  born  in  heaven  above, 

I  am  thine  only  motlier, 
Nor  will  affection  let  me 
Believe  thou  canst  forget  me. 

Then, — thou  in  heaven  and  I  on  earth, — 

May  this  one  hope  delight  us, 
That  thou  wilt  hail  my  second  birth, 

When  death  shall  reunite  us, 
"Where  worlds  no  more  can  sever 
Parent  and  child  for  ever. 


^ 


mill  of  mt   Mnfimt 


With  what  unknown  delight  the  mother  smiled, 
When  this  frail  treasure  in  her  arms  she  pressed ! 

Her  prayer  was  heard — she  clasped  a  living  child : 
But  how  the  gift  transcends  the  poor  request! 

A  child  was  all  she  asked,  with  many  a  vow ! 

Mother — behold  the  child  an  angel  now ! 

Now  in  her  father's  house  she  finds  a  place. 
Or,  if  to  earth  she  takes  a  transient  flight, 

'Tis  to  fulfil  the  purpose  of  his  grace : 

To  guide  thy  footsteps  to  the  world  of  light ; — 

A  ministering  spirit  sent  to  thee. 

That  where  she  is,  there  thou  may'st  also  be. 

336 


m 


tt^  gn. 


WILLIAM  COWPER. 

We  are  forbidden  to  murmur,  but  we  are  not  forbidden  to 
regret ;  and  whom  we  loved  tenderly  while  living,  we  may  still 
pursue  with  an  affectionate  remembrance,  without  having  any 
occasion  to  charge  ourselves  with  rebellion  aga'nst  the  sov- 
ereignty that  appointed  a  separation. 


\iii\t  8 


arj. 


From  the  group  of  little  faces 

One  is  gone. 
In  the  old  familiar  places, 

Sad  and  lone, 
Father,  mother,  meek-eyed  brother, 

Sit  and  moan. 

Sit  and  moan  for  one  departed, 
Pure  and  mild, 
43  337 


838  CHILDREN    IN    HEAVEN. 

Little  Mary,  gentle-hearted, 

Sainted  child — 
And  as  nestling  memories  thicken, 

Griefs  grow  wild. 

Home,  once  bright,  how  cold  and  dreary  1 

Shadows  deep 
Fall  on  forms  and  hearts  aweary. 

Eyes  that  weep — 
Thought  is  in  the  church-yard  seeking 

One  asleep. 

Still  the  merry  laugh  deceiving 

Fills  the  ear, 
Tiny  arms  yet  fondly  cleaving 

Dry  the  tear; 
Foot-falls,  silvery  foot-falls  patter 

Far  and  near. 

Ears  instinctive,  pause  to  hearken, 

All  in  vain — 
Days  drag  on  and  skies  shall  darken 

O'er  with  pain. 
But  the  heart  will  find  its  lost  one 

Ne'er  again ! 

From  the  treasured  fire-side  faces 

Here  to-day. 
From  the  tender  warm  embraces, 

Dropped  away. 


LITTLE    MARY.  339 


Sleeps  she  'mid  forgotten  sleepers 
In  the  clay. 

Ah !    what  weary  numbers  sighing 

To  be  free, 
Little  Mary,  would  be  lying 

Low  with  thee ! 
AVhere  no  care  nor  eating  sorrow 

E'er  shall  be. 

Weep  not  when  ye  tell  the  story 

Of  the  dead— 
'Tis  a  sunbeam  joined  the  glory 
Overhead ! 
"For  of  such  sweet  babes  is  heaven," 
Jesus  said. 


^pptal  to  Mtt elisions  fi  aunts. 

Irreligious,  but  bereaved  parents, — after  all,  what  avails 
the  safety  of  the  departed  to  you  ?  While  hope  for  your  own  souls 
holds  aloof  so  far — while  the  appeals  of  mercy  are  repeated  in 
vain — while  conscience  tells  so  fully,  and  so  truly,  that  the  offer 
of  salvation  has  ever  been  tendered  in  vain — what  boots  the  rest? 
What  is  it  to  you  that  the  hope  of  a  glorious  resurrection  enters 
the  dark  and  dank  habitation  of  the  little  one  ?  You  meet 
again  :  but  if  there  be  a  single  feeling  of  horror  above  all  others 
to  our  present  conception,  it  is  that  of  the  ending  of  a  natural 
and  social  law,  at  the  judgment  seat  of  God.  It  is  that  of  a 
law  of  affection  availing  nothing.  Your  little  one  became  the 
property  of  Jesus — not  by  virtue  of  any  prayer  of  faith  that  you 
had  uttered — not  by  a  free-will  offering  that  you  had  made — 
but  by  that  blood  of  atonement  you  have  thrust  so  often  from 
you — by  that  distinguishing  grace  whose  attractions  were  too  faint 
for  your  eye. 

Yet  you  have  Avatched  by  the  bed  of  the  departing  spirit  of 
infancy  ;  and  you  have  caught  the  last  sigh,  as  the  soul  winged 
its  passage  from  earth.  And  even  the  loneliness  of  that  sad 
moment  seemed  broken  by  an  admonition — "  Father  !" — 
"  Mother  !" — "  come  away  !"     You  heard — you  thought — 

340 


APPEAL    TO    IRRELIGIOUS    PARENTS.  341 

eternity  neared — earth  Interposed — and  you  returned  to  its  bosom 
again. 

Impenitent,  but  bereaved  parent ! — When  a  future  world,  in 
some  hour  of  reflection,  flings  its  shadow  over  your  path  ;  and, 
despite  of  all  your  efforts,  presses  its  realities  upon  your  atten- 
tion, remembei — that  no  bond  of  parental  love  may  abide  here- 
after, when  the  frown  of  an  offended  God  settles  the  destiny  of 
the  lost,  and  the  only  relationship  that  exists,  is  that  of  the 
family  of  Christ. 

If  the  tender  mercies  of  the  Saviour  were  too  little  engaging 
to  win  your  admiration — if  the  worth  of  your  own  soul  has  not 
entered  into  your  thoughts  of  the  future — behold  what  an  argu- 
ment is  furnished  by  an  afflictive  dispensation !  You  loved  the 
departed.  To  that  very  affection  a  most  solemn  providence  of 
God  has  appealed.  It  bids  you  gaze  from  earth  to  heaven. 
It  reminds  you  of  the  abode  of  glorified  spirits.  It  admonishes 
you  to  inquire,  "  am  I  also  ready  ?"  It  intimates  most  earnestly 
and  clearly,  that  the  only  true  consolation  which  ever  succeeds 
the  stroke  of  sorrow,  must  be  connected  with  a  reconciliation  to 
God,  and  an  humble  hope  in  the  Redeemer's  blood.  Let  these 
be  yours,  and  your  peace  will  be  independent  of  the  precarious 
tenure  of  human  life.  Faith  shall  scatter  the  darkness,  and  ex- 
plain the  mystery,  so  readily  attendant  on  affliction.  You  shall 
look  up  from  the  tomb  to  the  late  object  of  your  solicitude  and 
care.  You  shall  exclaim  with  a  confidence  sure  and  steadfast, — 
"  though  he  shall  not  return  to  me  " — "  I  shall  go  to  him  !" 


^ritf  for  ilit  gi^atr. 

O  HEARTS  that  never  cease  to  yearn, 
O  brimming  tears  that  ne'er  are  dried! 

The  dead,  though  they  depart,  return 
As  if  they  had  not  died ! 

The  living  are  the  only  dead ; 

The  dead  live — never  more  to  die; 
And  often  when  we  mourn  them  fled 

They  never  were  so  nigh. 

And  though  they  lie  beneath  the  waves, 
Or  sleep  within  the  church-yard  dim — 

(Ah !    through  how  many  different  graves 
God's  children  go  to  him !) 

Yet  every  grave  gives  up  its  dead 
Ere  it  is  overgrown  with  grass ! 

Then  why  should  hopeless  tears  be.  shed. 
Or  need  we  cry,  alas ! 

Or  why  should  memory  veiled  with  gloom. 
And  like  a  sorrowing  mourner  craped. 

Sit  weeping  o'er  an  empty  tomb 
Whose  captives  have  escaped? 

342 


GRIEF     FOR    THE     DEAD.  343 

'Tis  but  a  mound — and  will  be  mossed 
Whene'er  the  summer  grass  appears; — 

The  loved,  though  wept,  are  never  lost; 
We  only  lose  our  tears. 

Nay,  Hope  may  whisper  with  the  dead, 
By  bending  forward  where  they  are; 

But  Memory,  with  a  backward  tread, 
Communes  with  them  afar! 

The  joys  we  lose  are  but  forecast. 

And  we  shall  find  them  all  once  more; — 

We  look  behind  us  for  the  past, 
But  lo !    'tis  all  before  I 


A.  D.  F    RANDOLPH. 
I. 

A  LITTLE  child,  six  summers  old, 

So  thoughtful  and  so  fair, 
There  seemed  about  her  pleasant  ways 

A  more  than  childish  air. 
Was  sitting  on  a  summer  eve 

Beneath  a  spreading  tree, 
Intent  upon  an  ancient  book, 

Which  lay  upon  her  knee. 

She  turned  each  page  with  careful  hand, 

And  strained  her  sight  to  see. 
Until  the  drowsy  shadows  slept 

Upon  the  grassy  lea; 
Then  closed  the  book,  and  upwards  looked, 

And  straight  began  to  sing 
A  simple  verse  of  hopeful  love — 

This  very  childish  thing : 
^'  While  here  below,  how  sweet  to  know 

His  wondrous  love  and  story, 

341 


LITTLE     LUCY    AND    HER    SONG.  345 

And  then,  tlirough  grace,  to  see  His  face, 
And  live  with  him  in  glory !" 

II. 

That  little  child,  one  dreary  night 

Of  winter  wind  and  storm, 
Was  tossing  on  a  weary  couch 

Her  weak  and  wasted  form. 
And  in  her  pain,  and  in  its  pause, 

But  clasped  her  hands  in  prayer — 
(Strange  that  we  had  no  thoughts  of  heaven 

While  hers  were  only  there) — 

Until  she  said :    "  O  mother  dear. 

How  sad  you  seem  to  be ! 
Have  you  forgotten  that  He  said, 

'  Let  children  come  to  me  ?' 
Dear  mother,  bring  the  blessed  Book, 

Come,  mother,  let  us  sing," 
And  then  again,  with  faltering  tongue, 

She  sang  that  childish  thing : 
"While  here  below,  how  sweet  to  know 

His  wondrous  love  and  story. 
And  then,  through  grace,  to  see  His  face, 

And  live  with  him  in  glory !" 

III. 

Underneath  a  spreading  tree 
A  narrow  mound  is  seen, 

44 


346  CHILDREN    IN    HEAVEN. 

Wliicli  first  was  covered  by  the  snow, 

Then  blossomed  into  green ; 
Here  first  I  heard  that  childish  voice 

That  sings  on  earth  no  more; 
In  heaven  it  hath  a  richer  tone, 

And  sweeter  than  before : 
For  those  who  know  his  love  below — 

So  runs  the  wondrous  story — 
In  heaven,  through  grace,  shall  see  His  face, 

And  dwell  with  him  in  glory  ! 


fht  mnlti  s   ^isL 

I  THINK  when  I  read  that  sweet  story  of  old, 

When  Jesus  was  here  among  men, 
How  he  called  little  children  as  lambs  to  his  fold, 

I  should  like  to  have  been  with  them  then. 

I  wish  that  his  hands  had  been  placed  on  my  head, 
That  his  arm  had  been  thrown  around  me, 

And  that  I  might  have  seen  his  kind  look  when  he  said, 
"Let  the  little  ones  come  unto  me." 

Yet  still  to  his  footstool  in  prayer  I  may  go. 

And  ask  for  a  share  in  his  love ; 
And  if  I  thus  earnestly  seek  him  below, 

I  shall  see  him  and  hear  him  above. 

In  that  beautiful  place  he  is  gone  to  prepare. 

For  all  who  are  washed  and  forgiven ; 
And  many  dear  children  are  gathering  there, 

"For  of  such  is  the  kingdom  of  heaven." 

I  long  for  the  joys  of  that  glorious  time. 

The  sweetest,  and  brightest,  and  best. 
When  the  dear  little  children  of  every  clime, 

Shall  crowd  to  his  arms  and  be  blest. 

347 


|!je  |02  nnh  ^is  |n0el. 

CAROLINE  M.  SAWYER. 

"  O  MOTHER,  I've  been  with  an  angel  to-day ! 
I  was  out  alone  in  the  forest  at  play, 
Chasing  after  the  butterflies,  watching  the  bees, 
And  hearing  the  woodpecker  tapj)ing  the  trees ; 
So  I  played,  and  I  played,  till,  so  weary  I  grew, 
I  sat  down  to  rest  in  the  shade  of  a  yew; 
While  the  birds  sang  so  sweetly  high  up  in  its  top, 
I  held  my  breath,  mother,  for  fear  they  would  stop! 
Thus  a  long  while  I  sat,  gazing  up  to  the  sky. 
And  watching  the  clouds  that  went  hurrying  by, 
When  I  heard  a  voice  calling  just  over  my  head, 
That  sounded  as  if  '  Come,  O  brother !'    it  said, 
And  there,  right  up  over  the  top  of  the  tree, 
O  mother,  an  angel  was  beckoning  to  me! 

"  And,  '  Brother !    once  more,  come,  O  brother !'   he  cried, 

And  flew  on  light  pinions  cloSe  down  by  my  side ! 

And,  mother,  oh,  never  was  being  so  bright, 

As  the  one  wnich  then  beamed  on  my  wondering  sight! 

His  face  was  as  fair  as  the  delicate  shell ; 

His  hair  down  his  shoulders  in  long  ringlets  fellj 

348 


THE     BOY    AXD     HIS     ANGEL.  .349 

While  his  eyes  resting  on  me,  so  melting  with  love, 
Were  as  soft    and  as  mild  as  the  eyes  of  a  dove! 
And  somehoAV,  dear  mother,  I  felt  not  afraid, 
As  his  hand  on  my  brow  he  caressingly  laid, 
And  murmured  so  softly  and  gently  to  me, 
'  Come,  brother,  the  angels  are  waiting  for  thee  !' 

"And  then  on  my  forehead  he  tenderly  pressed 

Such  kisses — O  mother,  they  thrilled  through  my  breast 

As  swiftly  as  lightning  leaps  down  from  on  high 

When  the  chariot  of  God  rolls  along  the  black  sky  ! 

While  his  breath,  floating  round  me,  was  soft  as  the  breeze 

That  played  in  my  tresses,  and  rustled  the  trees : 

At  last  on  my  head  a  deep  blessing  he  poured, 

Then  plumed  his  bright  pinions,  and  upward  he  soared: 

And  up,  up  he  went,  through  the  blue  sky  so  far. 

He  seemed  to  float  there  like  a  glittering  star ; 

Yet  still  my  eyes  followed  his  radiant  flight. 

Till,  lost  in  the  azure,  he  passed  from  my  sight! 

Then,  oh,  how  I  feared,  as  I  caught  the  last  gleam 

Of  his  vanishing  form,  it  was  only  a  dream ! 

When  soft  voices  murmured  once  more  from  the  tree, 

'  Come,  brother,  the  angels  are  waiting  for  thee !' " 

Oh !    pale  grew  that  mother,  and  heavy  her  heart, 
For  she  knew  her  fair  boy  from  this  world  must  depart; 
That  his  bright  locks  must  fade  in  the  dust  of  the  tomb 
Ere  the  Autumn  winds  withered  the  Summer's  rich  bloom ! 


350  CHILDREN    IN    HEAVEN. 

Oh,  how  his  young  footsteps  she  watched,  day  by  day, 

As  his  delicate  form  wasted  slowly  away, 

Till  the  soft  light  of  heaven  seemed  shed  o'er  his  face, 

And  he  crept  up  to  die  in  her  loving  embrace! 

"  Oh,  clasj)  me,  dear  mother,  close,  close  to  your  breast, 

On  that  gentle  pillow  again  let  me  rest! 

Let  me  once  more  gaze  up  to  that  dear  loving  eye, 

And  then,  oh,  methinks,  I  can  willingly  die! 

Now  kiss  me,  dear  mother !    oh  quickly !    for  see ! 

The  bright  blessed  angels  are  waiting  for  me." 

Oh,  wild  was  the  anguish  that  swept  through  her  breast 
As  the  long,  frantic  kiss  on  pale  lips  she  pressed, 
And  felt  the  vain  search  of  his  soft  pleading  eye, 
As  it  strove  to  meet  hers,  ere  the  fair  boy  could  die ! 
"I  see  you  not,  mother,  for  darkness  and  night 
Are  hiding  your  dear  loving  face  from  my  sight — 
But  I  hear  your  low  sobbings — dear  mother,  good-bye! 
The  angels  are  ready  to  bear  me  on  high ! 
I  will  wait  for  you  there — but,  oh,  tarry  not  long. 
Lest  grief  at  your  absence  should  sadden  my  song!" 
He  ceased,  and  his  hands  meekly  clasped  on  his  breast, 
While  his  sweet  face  sank  down  on  its  pillow  of  restj 
Then,  closing  his  eyes,  now  all  rayless  and  dim, 
Went  up  with  the  angels  that  waited  for  him. 


^t  is   ^cll   hiit^   tilt  Milts. 

It  is  well ! — nor  would  we  our  babe  recall, 
And  soothing  and  sweet  are  the  tears  that  fall ; — 
But  a  few  brief  pangs  on  his  mother's  breast, 
And  we  laid  him  down  in  his  holy  rest; 
Ere  the  world  its  snares  around  him  threw, — 
Or  its  sins  and  its  cares  he  ever  knew. 

It  is  well !    since  the  Saviour's  word  is  given. 

That  of  such  as  our  child  is  the  host  of  heaven ! 

No  struggle  for  him, — no  doubts  or  fears, 

His  young  cheek  spared  repentant  tears. 

It  is  well !    and  we  "  bear"  and  adore  "  the  rod," 

For  the  wielding  hand  was  the  hand  of  God. 

351 


^ 


l^c  min^  of  ^eatl^. 


Mourn  not  o'er  early  graves — for  those 
Removed  whilst  only  buds  are  shown, 

For  God,  who  sowed  and  watered,  knows 
The  time  to  gather  in  his  own. 


[eep  Mot. 


Not  for  the  babe  that  sleepeth  here 
My  tears  bestow,  my  sorrows  give,- 

Pass  on,  and  weep  with  grief  sincere 
For  those  who  innocence  outlive. 


352 


Date  Due 

$) 

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